Ex-Jets HC pumps brakes on Caleb Williams "immortality" dreams after Bears pick: "Why don't we reach for a winning season?"

Caleb Williams has been the projected number-one overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft since winning a Heisman Trophy two seasons ago. The Chicago Bears made it official on Thursday night in Detroit when they selected the USC Trojans superstar.

They are hoping that he can end a long drought lackluster quarterback play to their storied franchise.

During a press conference via NBC Sports Chicago, Williams made some bold statements about his upcoming career. He discussed potentially being the "greatest" quarterback and his goals of "immortality" by "winning championships."

While Bears fans are hoping all of this comes true, he may be getting a bit ahead of himself, according to Eric Mangini.

The former New York Jets coach and current NFL analyst recently took issue with Caleb Williams' lofty expectations for his own career. He discussed this situation during a recent episode of First Things First.

Mangini explained:

"Say less. Why are you doing this? Might be the worst thing when everybody goes back and says, 'Hey, remember when you were reaching for immortality?' Why don't we reach for a winning season?"

"Haven't been one of those in Chicago in six years. Why don't we reach for that? Why don't we reach for being a leader in the locker room? Why don't we reach for having a level of success?"

Mangini's rant was in response to the following statement by Williams:

"To be the greatest, or to be able to sit at the table, my last goal is immortality. The only way to reach that is winning championships. That's big for me and something that is the reason I play the game. I'm excited"

Eric Mangini expressed that he feels Caleb Williams is getting too far ahead of himself. Rather than having goals of winning multiple Super Bowl rings and being one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, he believes that he should start smaller.

Turning in their first winning season in nearly a decade would be a good way to get things heading in the right direction.

Caleb Williams looks to end Bears' run of failed QBs

Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears have not at all been a franchise known for their quarterbacks and they are far from it. In fact, no quarterback that they have drafted has made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame since the official AFL-NFL merger in 1965.

Despite being one of the oldest franchises in the entire NFL, the Bears have won just one Super Bowl ring.

Jim McMahon was the quarterback, but the team was much more known for their "Monsters of the Midway" defense. They don't really have an iconic quarterback in the modern era, so Caleb Williams can potentially be the first.

Williams also has a chance of ending a terrible run of failed first-round quarterbacks for the Bears in the NFL Draft. Justin Fields, Mitchell Trubisky, and Rex Grossman were the past three and none of them received a second contract in Chicago beyond their rookie deal.

Williams is hoping to change that narrative, and based on his bold statements, he seems confident that he will.