Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles isn’t hiding how he feels about quarterback Caleb Williams and his development heading into his sophomore season.
Speaking after the team’s preseason win over the Buffalo Bills, Poles emphasized not only Williams’ on-field talent but also his maturity, preparation, and relentless drive to improve. From handling chaotic moments in games to showing up at Halas Hall before sunrise, the Bears believe their young quarterback is on the right track to becoming a franchise cornerstone.
Growth in Chaos: Ryan Poles’ Blunt Feelings on Caleb Williams’ Path Toward Success
For Poles, what stands out most about Williams isn’t just his arm talent or athleticism; it’s how he responds when things go wrong, which unfortunately happened a lot last season. During the preseason matchup against Buffalo, Williams overcame a holding penalty by immediately bouncing back with a big completion to rookie tight end Colston Loveland. That sequence, according to Poles, reflects the kind of resilience to succeed in the NFL.
“I think there’s so much growth that happens in chaos,” Poles said. “When things happen, or maybe it’s a bad decision, what’s the response after that? And I think that’s going to show some growth and maturity.”
This mindset is critical for any young quarterback.
Sophomore quarterbacks notoriously struggle, but Poles sees Williams developing a short memory and continuing to grow. He also cautioned that the development curve isn’t linear — that most young quarterbacks go through “ups and downs” in their first few seasons, but he believes Williams’ journey will resemble a stair step of steady progress.
“I still believe there’s going to be some ups and downs,” Poles said. “For us, I hope it’s a stair step that we go on and we just continue to go up.”
That progression, Poles explained, is about more than just in-game moments. It also comes from understanding the offense, trusting the talent around him, and feeling the game slow down over time. “When you’re in survival mode, when you’re trying to figure out the speed of the game, maybe things don’t make sense.”
Preparation Setting the Tone
GettyChicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams #18.
If the Bears are looking for reasons to believe Williams can handle that growth curve, they need to look at his work habits. Throughout training camp, Williams has built a reputation for his early mornings and detailed preparation.
According to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic, Williams would show up for work at 5:45 a.m. to take notes, draw up plays, and walk through the play out loud.
“Part of it’s writing down, part of it is visual, part of it is speaking it and then part of it is going out there and doing it,” Williams said. “I go through the whole thing as if I got the call. I repeat it in the huddle, I say the cadence, I get up to the line and just go through the whole gymnastics… so that when we get out there, it’s a lot smoother.”
That approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Poles has praised Williams for recalibrating how he uses his time, noting his constant presence in the building and his urgency to improve.
Even veteran quarterback Case Keenum has noticed Williams’ drive. “He wants it, he wants it bad,” Keenum said. “I’ve heard of young guys who just kind of show up and go, and he’s not one of those guys.”
Poles praises Williams’ work ethic and expresses confidence in him continuing to make progress.
Poles made it clear that effort and discipline won’t guarantee instant results, but they do set the foundation for long-term success. For Williams, it means more.
As Ryan Poles put it, the Bears are confident their young quarterback will continue to climb, one step at a time. And if his early habits are any indication, Caleb Williams is determined to carry Chicago on his back.
Bears GM Ryan Poles Makes His Feelings Clear on Caleb Williams