Getty Image / Quinn Harris
It’s hard to resist comparing Chicago Bears quarterback and 2024 NFL Draft first-overall pick Caleb Williams with Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes. The similarities are definitely there between the two to highly talented quarterbacks.
Caleb Williams has made it clear that he would like the comparisons between him and one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history to stop. But, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio is not listening to him, and went on the Pat Mcafee Show on Wednesday to make those comparisons once again.
It’s just the preseason, so take it with a grain of salt, but Caleb Williams has looked great in the two exhibition games he’s played in for a revamped Bears offense.
CALEB WILLIAMS. WOW 🤯
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/NJbnrJlbz4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 17, 2024
It’s plays like that, plus his time in college at Oklahoma and USC where the 2022 Heisman winner routinely made highlight plays that draw those comparisons.
Follwing the Bears’ preseason game against the Bengals, Caleb Williams made it clear he wanted those Patrick Mahomes comparisons to stop.
“We’re excited. To your question, it’s respect. It’s cool and all, but I’m Caleb Williams. Patrick Mahomes is Patrick Mahomes. Tyreek Hill is Tyreek Hill. Much love to them and things like that. I met them, talked to them both, things like that, but we’re here to win games for the Chicago Bears,” he said.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio is having none of that from Williams. He went on the Pat McAfee show and raved about Caleb Williams, and brought back the comparisons.
"We spent time at the scouting combine & I was blown away by Caleb Williams..
I've been saying for years that Patrick Mahomes is gonna revolutionize the way the position is played..
Caleb is playing the position like Mahomes plays it" ~ @ProFootballTalk #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/yzGtBvxoWD
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 21, 2024
Patrick Mahomes has evolved as a quarterback since he took over as the Chiefs starter full-time in 2018. Back then, he would be improvising frequently and making plays like the one shown above. While he definitely still has that in his arsenal, he’s become surgical in the pocket. That’s improved both his effectiveness and also will improve his longevity as his career goes on.
That’s something Caleb Williams will have to do in the future, as well. But, he came into the NFL with a more advanced pocket-passing skill-set than Patrick Mahomes had.
All this being said, for those comparisons to continue, Caleb Williams is going to have to make the Bears Super Bowl contenders quickly, just like Patrick Mahomes did. In his first six seasons as a starter, Mahomes has yet to fall short of reaching the AFC Championship Game.