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LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Caleb Williams texted Tory Taylor after the Bears drafted him in the fourth round, delivering a simple message.

You’re not going to punt very much.

That came from a quarterback taken No. 1 overall in the same 2024 draft, offering some humor and underlying confidence by suggesting his offense would score more often than not.

That story quickly went public and is forever etched into Bears draft lore. What happened next didn’t make the headlines.

“The night we drafted him,” Williams said with a smile, “that was the first time I’ve ever looked at a punter highlight tape.”

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Williams was awed by what the Australian and Iowa alum could do punting a football. In addition to a booming leg that can create distance and stellar hangtime, Taylor also has an ability to put spins on the ball that make it bounce in a way that deters returns and touchbacks.

“He’s unbelievable,” Williams said. “… I’m obviously grateful to have him – for what he does for this team, how he helps out this team. He’s such a great human, let alone an outstanding punter, to be able to do some of the things he does.”

That was clear Sunday against the Rams, when Taylor pinned the Rams deep twice late in the fourth quarter. He sent a long volley into L.A. territory, with the spin to make it veer sharply right and out of bounds at the Rams 8-yards. It was a 66-yard punt, no return.

The Bears burned some time off the clock but were forced to punt with roughly a minute left. Taylor was already in Rams territory, so this one required a different touch. He sent it high and accurately able to be downed at the Rams’ 8-yard line. It was a 35-yard punt, no return.

The Bears intercepted Matthew Stafford one play later and that was it. Bears win secured.

An NFC special teams player of the week award honored Taylor’s efforts, bringing attention to someone relatively anonymous who the Bears already consider a true impact player.

Taylor was a major player against the Rams despite just five times. He gained an average of 55 yards in field position, and dropped it inside the 20 on three occasions.

“I only go out there a few times a game, so I try to make the most of it,” Taylor said on Wednesday. “Just go out there and dominate field position, but it’s probably one of those things that you don’t obviously always kick a 66-yarder inside the 10, so I was pretty happy. I think it was just a key moment in the game as well, so I was certainly happy about that.”

Taylor was also happy to have rebounded well after what he considered a terrible Week 3 performance against the Indianapolis Colts.

“Last week was probably a bit of a D game,” Taylor said. “This weekend was probably more so an A game. I really just want to narrow the gap between the bad games and it’s also pretty exciting playing well, but really it’s just one game. Can’t get too ahead of yourself.”

That mentality is important, and something learned by the rookie. Taylor was admittedly disappointed after the Colts game, but core special teams player Amen Ogbongbemiga advised him to flush it and focus on the next game no matter what.

“I’d probably put it up there with one of my worst career games in the years I’ve played,” Taylor said. “At the end of the day, who’s to say that, had I not had that game, I may not have performed as well this past weekend. Everything is really just a learning opportunity. There are so many ups and downs. It’s the NFL. It’s football. There’s going to be a lot more challenges along the way. It’s really all about how you deal with them.”

Despite being a fan favorite, Taylor tries to stay in his lane and out of the limelight. There’s a natural attraction towards a foreigner who can do borderline trick shots punting the football, but Taylor doesn’t seek it out with theatrics. He has large aspirations, but that centers on doing the right things all the time.

“When my career is done, I want (special teams coordinator Richard Hightower and GM Ryan Poles) to look like absolute geniuses,” Taylor said. “But, at the end of the day, I also want to be one of those guys that no one really knows about — a punter that just goes out and does his thing and runs off the field because, I feel like, to me, that’s how you play for a long time. I just want to be consistent.”