How Caleb Williams is handling Jayden Daniels connections, a homecoming vs. Commanders in Washington
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Caleb Williams spent many formative years in the Washington, D.C. area and in Maryland, an expanse that the Bears quarterback considers hometown/region.
There were meaningful moments spent in Bowie, Maryland and nearby Upper Marlboro, plus a time spent living alone at 77 H. Street in Washington D.C. while he was playing at Gonzaga College High to avoid a crazy commute from the suburbs.
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“I lived there in some important times in my life,” Williams said during a Wednesday press conference. “I didn’t just live them when I was like 1 or 2 and my parents moved. I lived in them at some ages that I built friendships, ties and things and connections to. I would say I connect to both (D.C. and Maryland).”
Williams hasn’t been back much since he went to college, creating plenty of local anticipation for when the Bears play the host Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon.
So, he’ll have friends and family and those who look up to him in attendance for this one, far more than he can assist getting into Northwest Stadium.
“I used all my tickets and so from there I’ve got to figure out,” Williams said. “Yeah, I’ve used all my tickets for the people that are coming and I’m excited for sure.”
That’s not this game’s only hook. It’s also a matchup of this year’s first and second overall NFL Draft picks, with the Bears taking Williams at No. 1 and Washington selecting Jayden Daniels just after.
Daniels is banged up and might not play on Sunday, but that didn’t stop a flow of questions about Daniels and a Williams homecoming. And there’s a connection with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who helped prepare Williams for the pros while at USC in 2023. That didn’t leave time for much Bears talk in his weekly presser, and justifiably so.
Williams isn’t blind to all those connections but won’t let storylines invade his work week leading to and going through Sunday afternoon.
“My job is to go win games on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays,” Williams said. “That’s it.”
Chicago could have an easier time if Daniels can’t go, but Williams is hoping the LSU alum can. As a competitor, playing quality opponents brings out the best in him. Both quarterbacks have shown well early in their NFL careers, leading many to dream about great battles down the road.
There’s always a connection between quarterbacks of the same class. Some thrive and others don’t, but those that do often square off in important meetings throughout their careers.
“He’s on the same side, the NFC side, so I’ll be seeing him a good amount, I would say,” Williams said. “We’ll see from this game and in the future. I think it’s going to be great for us and the battle between us is what y’all want to kind of talk about. But my job is to go out there and win the game for the Chicago Bears.”
Williams chooses to ignore all the build-up surrounding this game, but he’ll create room to appreciate where he’s play and those important to him he’s playing before.
“I’ve been back, I’d say, since I left high school I haven’t been back other than one or two times, so being able to go back and share that experience is going to be great,” Williams said. “It’s going to be fun, and to come out with a win is going to be most important.”