0:00

To go right to the podium at

0:02

a Halas hall right now Plaza most

0:04

here snow and today it's raining now

0:06

remembering the sun today I guess not

0:09

but now it's been great are really

0:11

exciting, really happy and not only in

0:13

our be here my family stuff but

0:15

also to be able to have Roma

0:17

Dunes a number nine. It's pretty sick

0:20

I enough so I'm really happy. Really

0:22

excited. Radio gone you use as many

0:24

times. more

0:28

jump on. It last twenty

0:30

four hours. What kind of perception of

0:33

you got of obviously feels about for

0:35

both your your rival yeah was say

0:37

the easiest thing is is because we

0:39

have stats on it is this pass

0:41

the you know. Fanatics

0:45

I guess I believe it was came

0:47

out that a pass of fame Clark's

0:49

record which is I end up in

0:51

a repost it in San. Why? I

0:53

guess that's Chicago for you so that's

0:55

probably my answer. The that is is

0:57

is all. Love and support is is

0:59

strong. I've heard about it and soda.

1:01

Get it? You know to get some

1:03

of that that that love and support

1:05

that early arm is really awesome. Really

1:07

excited with a limp you have a

1:09

lot of decision on you. throw your

1:11

amateur. Agree with what do you think

1:13

about all of that ratcheting. Up alleys and

1:15

sure, the pressure scrutiny. Being. In

1:17

the Nfl. Being here specifically I

1:20

would say. Just. Do

1:22

my job. Don't focus on all of

1:24

that. I'm always gonna have scrutiny or

1:27

mad do things like a payment else.

1:29

I'm always of scrutiny over that. I'm

1:31

aware, aware, funky, close, and things like

1:34

that. So you know. Just

1:36

do my job and of above your when games. You

1:39

know I think you when you want a bunch

1:41

of games here are your make a lot of

1:43

people on a majority happy So. We.

1:46

Took me out for my impulse yesterday and

1:48

the video of your guys' interaction that he

1:50

had to wait five minutes trying to pack.

1:52

Actually, I do that. you said you've waiting

1:55

five months. Yup, what has it? was that

1:57

anticipation process like in getting ready to be

1:59

drafted by. team, did you envision like all

2:01

of this and what was going to come with it

2:03

in your draft act? Yeah, so I watched this

2:06

year, I watched the Bears a little bit more than I

2:08

ever have, you know,

2:10

leading up to this moment throughout the

2:12

season. So I, you

2:14

know, the anticipation part, I've

2:17

been waiting on, waiting for that day yesterday.

2:19

And now that it came true, I'm excited,

2:22

but I got a couple other goals to

2:24

hit over the next few years. So I'm

2:26

excited. Caleb, does it go through your mind

2:28

at all that there might be growing

2:31

pains as a rookie quarterback in

2:33

the NFL, or do you just, do you not even

2:35

think about that? I

2:39

don't think I think about it, to be honest with you.

2:42

I think about just doing my job, handling,

2:44

you know, the things that I can handle,

2:46

you know, dealing with the small things, holding

2:48

everybody accountable and everybody holding me accountable, showing

2:51

up to work every day, ready to

2:54

go and to have fun doing it.

2:56

If growing pains do, you know, come

2:58

around, it happens with a lot of players.

3:01

And so, you know, you deal with it in

3:03

that moment, you handle it, but

3:05

I don't think about it. Along the things lines, Caleb.

3:11

When you talk about your nails, you talk about your

3:13

clothes, is it some kind of

3:16

your comfort in your skin? Yes, yes.

3:21

When I wake up in the mirror, when I wake

3:23

up and, you know, go in the mirror and look

3:25

at myself, I'm comfortable with that man that's looking back.

3:28

I know who I am, I know what I like,

3:30

I know what I like to do. And, you know,

3:33

with that, you know, I know that I work hard

3:35

and I enjoy what I do. So I'm

3:38

very comfortable with who I am. And that's how

3:40

I go about it. Along those growing pains, you

3:43

know, the situation that's going to be pressure-checked,

3:46

number one, a lot of people kind

3:49

of try to tip for some of those patients. and

4:00

duck, do you think it's mostly something wrong with

4:02

the play cases? What's the reason duck? It's

4:05

here. You

4:07

know, there's no reason to duck. I'm

4:11

here. Rome's here. Kenan Island, you

4:13

know, top five defense that we had last

4:15

year. You know, special

4:17

teams, all the new roles, whatever, you know, it's

4:19

all it's, you know, we're here. So I'm

4:22

excited. I know everybody's excited. The

4:24

Bears fans are excited from what I've heard and seen.

4:28

And there's no reason to duck, you know, attack it,

4:30

you know, head first and go

4:32

get it. Kenan, you touched

4:34

on those growing pains a little bit,

4:37

but kind of everywhere you go on, you have the

4:39

confidence that you are the best. Do you come in

4:41

here expecting to be great right away? Yeah,

4:44

why wouldn't I? Obviously, if

4:46

there's growing pains, you know,

4:48

you handle them. But that doesn't

4:51

mean that that affects your greatness. There's

4:54

trials and tribulations that you go through. You

4:56

know, why would I go somewhere, work so hard for

4:58

so many years in every situation that

5:00

I go to believe I'm the best and then

5:02

I get here and

5:05

I don't believe that. You know, that

5:07

doesn't mean that I go around and boast. It doesn't

5:09

mean that I go around and, you know,

5:12

and say that. But the

5:14

way I handle my work, the way I

5:17

carry myself every day, how I

5:19

treat my friends, families, teammates, the faculty, you

5:22

know, the executives here, the custodians, whatever

5:24

the case may be. Treat everybody, you

5:26

know, as they are. We're

5:29

all equal. And everybody should think

5:31

that they're the best when you do things and

5:33

you work so hard for stuff. Caleb, you talked

5:36

the last couple of days about all the

5:38

hard work you put in growing up. Yeah. Take

5:40

it to this point. How much of that was

5:42

innate and just part of your personality? Now how

5:44

much did you have to learn? I

5:47

think it's a process. I would

5:50

say most of it you have to learn. I

5:52

don't think anybody's born, you know, with those things. You

5:54

have to learn and you have to work towards them and

5:57

you have to have people around you, you know,

5:59

that. that are gonna tell you right

6:01

from wrong, whether it's your family members,

6:04

mentors, friends, and things like

6:06

that. And then you take

6:08

it from there and you make choices of

6:10

how you're gonna be, whether

6:12

it's actual physical trade of what you do,

6:15

or whether it's actual something like leadership and

6:18

things like that. So, handle it in

6:20

those ways and through those lens, you

6:23

always kinda work for it and work through it.

6:25

Caleb, you saw the video message that your mom

6:27

sent you last night. What was that moment like

6:29

for you watching that? Yeah, my mom is

6:31

in here tonight. Over

6:34

here on my right. No, it was great. We're

6:38

a tough family. We

6:41

don't necessarily give too many congratulations

6:45

and moments like that. Because

6:50

you get to live every day and you're grateful for that

6:52

and we're all grateful for that. But you're

6:55

working towards something. So to

6:57

have this moment and be

7:00

a Chicago Bear of

7:02

this historic team that we're building

7:05

and things like that. So

7:08

for her to do that for me in

7:10

a three minute, I think it was three

7:12

minutes and 33 seconds, for

7:16

her to record something like that, I heard she choked up

7:18

a little bit also, it gets

7:20

me pretty emotional. I tried to hold back

7:22

the tears I couldn't and

7:25

much love to her, shout out to my

7:27

mom. So yeah. Caleb,

7:29

it's clear that the Bears have known it

7:31

with you for a while. So how much of this pre-Jeff

7:33

process have you been able to actually

7:35

start learning their offense with Shane and Gary? None.

7:40

I've been on phone calls with them,

7:42

building a relationship, just

7:45

talking. And that's really

7:47

been it. It's

7:50

been a journey and

7:52

building these relationships so far and

7:55

we got a long way to go, but I'll be

7:57

learning the playbook here next week. I

8:01

think they said Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, something like

8:03

that, hair coming up. So we're

8:05

excited. How much of your role as a

8:07

quarterback, do you feel in game situations, is

8:10

to make your teammates better, to

8:13

put the team on your back in crunch time and

8:15

be the reason the Bears win? I

8:19

wouldn't say that the QB position is necessarily

8:22

to be the reason why the team wins.

8:25

It's to be a portion of it. There's

8:28

obviously 10 other people

8:30

in the field when you're on the field. And

8:32

then at other times, whether it's special teams,

8:35

there's 11 people. And then on

8:37

defense, there's another 11 on the

8:39

field. And so team sport, that's why I

8:41

love the sport so much. But

8:44

my reason to go out

8:46

there is to win games. My reason why I play

8:49

is to win games and win championships. And so I

8:51

wanna be a big portion of it. I wanna go

8:53

out there, I wanna have fun, I wanna enjoy, I

8:55

wanna deal with my teammates. So

8:57

what better place to do it than the Chicago Bears? How

9:00

did you get to the place in your life

9:02

and your career that you're not phased

9:04

by any of this? The cameras, the interviews, all

9:06

this stuff, obviously it's gonna get bigger and everything,

9:09

but right now you don't seem phased by NASA. How

9:11

did you get to that point? I

9:14

would say when you prepare mentally and physically and

9:18

spiritually for things like this, for moments like

9:20

this, when you actually are

9:22

in the moment, you don't

9:24

feel phased, you don't feel nervous, you don't feel the

9:26

butterflies or anything like that, you're ready for it, you're

9:28

prepared for it. And so with that and then the

9:31

help of my support team, my mom, my dad, girlfriend

9:34

and team, outside

9:36

of actual football, and then actually the coaches

9:39

and the people around me that have

9:41

my mentors are helping steal all these things.

9:43

And throughout time, whether it was me watching them or

9:46

them telling me right from

9:48

wrong or good job or bad job, you

9:52

grow up and you progress. And

9:54

so they help prepare me for these moments.

9:57

And so the feel Of being

9:59

worried in these moments. Ah, doesn't really

10:01

cross women. Don't often

10:03

say to everybody though. bears. I

10:07

so that is Caleb Williams

10:10

Roman Dunes A should be

10:12

taking the podium here shortly.

10:14

At how as hall I just think both

10:16

of these guys and again. What

10:19

it equates to on the field as a different

10:21

conversation. but both of them are so mature. And

10:24

and their messages. I think.

10:27

It's it's very consumable for lack of

10:29

better to much different then then the

10:31

perception of the Diva that many are

10:34

simple painted him as a from the

10:36

outside rise as both of these guys

10:38

speeds in a manner in which you

10:40

would think they would be great teammates.

10:42

Yes yes or a here we go

10:45

Here's Roma Dunes airstrikes that of your

10:47

safely and them as I get a

10:49

payment processors yesterday when she finds out

10:51

that York to be as he may.

10:54

Well. That that sounds like between you guys. One

10:57

since it's like the incision that's what you started

10:59

a couple weeks ago to work out how becoming

11:01

reality gets kind of surreal. you know that the

11:03

the little things you know before it and it

11:06

was new house or going to play out on

11:08

that happened before we're we're kind of special. that

11:10

make that moment even more special because you know

11:12

it actually came to force themselves superior. Super excited

11:14

to be beard be a teammate of his and

11:17

to be along this journey together on something the

11:19

special summon help weeks on. would I would like

11:21

or is it look back on his? you know

11:23

the first moment that we realized we were payments.

11:26

From from have you heard from

11:28

a seizure in analysis. I

11:31

believe so I think they Texan in the group

11:33

said that we I was in when we did

11:36

our workouts. I'm just congratulate us both. So skills

11:38

guys have artery so. From

11:40

wouldn't fight against the woods to

11:42

not about. Ah

11:45

man it was. you know embarrassing to watch some of

11:47

the things that he was doing to our defense so

11:49

in a very special and a very unique skill say

11:51

you know when you watch him play on the things

11:53

that you can do on the field I you know

11:55

you don't see. Any other quarterback doing so,

11:57

he brings a unique skill sets. Anyway,

12:00

confidence in the pocket. Very coffee. You

12:02

know if sending a place and you

12:04

know that the plays never over till

12:06

you know the whistle blower. You know

12:08

that front holsters that he was sweating

12:10

it out with? I'll be digits you

12:13

at night. What does that mean to

12:15

you? Chances are you at all sweat

12:17

it out or visitors. Can it be

12:19

happy Wherever you want a deathly had

12:21

the mindset to you know be happy

12:23

wherever I went by. you know in

12:25

the back on mine away. The Bears

12:27

visit went tremendously well and I came

12:29

into. This facility and and the attitude and

12:31

then and there and after that they put in

12:34

six of my son. My visit and to the

12:36

conversations that we have was incredible. So you know

12:38

I knew when that phone call came in that

12:40

we know from Illinois that it was gonna be

12:42

the Bears and I was super excited. So unhappy

12:45

at that. You know enough was come get me

12:47

as well. You know you always want to be

12:49

somewhere where your wanted rights. so I want to

12:51

be here. They want a meteor and I think

12:54

that's a good connection. Have room to sort of

12:56

the she urged you keep track of where people

12:58

were slaughtered, you kind of in. The mock drafts

13:00

in the rankings was really into rise pretty

13:02

regularly. Twelve seasons. Kind of shocked to learn

13:04

a season Now I really didn't earn a

13:06

season. the no mana more focus was you

13:08

know make a show was there for my

13:11

team and make sure you know was you

13:13

know the fully prepared every week said to

13:15

help my team wins Almond gonna national said

13:17

championship run that we did so during the

13:19

week know but you know is off season

13:21

I'm working towards the combine all those different

13:23

things out look at every now and then

13:25

bus. I'll play the validity in the dress

13:27

because you know they've never been fully correctly.

13:29

You never know. How to work out or

13:31

another? Body. From.

13:34

I understand suicide kismet with your

13:36

the beers because you first. Less.

13:45

Water. so. It's

13:49

crazy. It really is as colors. So

13:51

just because in all the things are

13:53

coincidences right bus home You know you

13:55

sort of thing about any these I

13:58

manage Really coincidentally begins is this. All

14:00

these different things is coincidences happened and now

14:02

I'm here. It's it just makes about was

14:04

more special and you know a kind of

14:06

seems like it was it was meant to

14:08

be. So I'm to be somewhere the know

14:10

to have that history as a grown up

14:12

you know going to are So Devin Hester

14:14

be my favorite player for surgery the Bears

14:17

jersey and urlacher. it's you know it. It's

14:19

almost too good to be true. For

14:21

the drop of conversations you had with herbs

14:23

the feel like going so well. this has

14:26

been on a one off the like. They

14:28

truly did the research on the honestly I

14:30

think they really understand what like a brings

14:32

us off and from what can I can

14:34

bring to this organization and when I was

14:37

having those conversations with them it was in

14:39

like ourselves You know they they had miss

14:41

anything about me while was as a person

14:43

of well as the player. so am I

14:45

appreciated that A know I did my research

14:48

as well on them. You know know unless

14:50

we know who else components. Within and who

14:52

they were there were trying to get in the

14:54

dressing who was already in their lawyers to record

14:56

the whole. So you know I think we had

14:58

that mutual respect for one another that created as

15:00

a great visit. doing your research on them after

15:03

it's beyond beyond like last year and city and

15:05

that was built for so long as the fans

15:07

to see. The investment that they made yesterday.

15:09

Allen with Kayla for. With you and building

15:11

off athletes feeling you get coming into like

15:13

that excited you know, excited to attack release.

15:16

Our mayor really reminds me of been all

15:18

that seeds he pieces that I had in

15:20

college and the pieces coming together on for

15:22

the incredible seasons that we had. It really

15:25

feels as at that same filming in or

15:27

how many is having so many weapons on

15:29

off and being a guy like Kayla with

15:31

we know you know at the helm of

15:34

the all I'm allows us to do so

15:36

many different things so I'm super excited for

15:38

the you know attack mindset that will. Have

15:40

often see explosiveness that we can raise any

15:43

football field and I think it was just

15:45

described or experience last season with washington of

15:47

of go on that climb from using the

15:49

pac twelve and one of the task of

15:51

i have to plan for her out for

15:54

on us that last it was it was

15:56

great it was lot ever seen or lot

15:58

of perseverance or since of. And

16:00

I think through a lot of Dell is well you

16:03

know you guys are. We go on the east as

16:05

a country so I don't know if you guys are

16:07

sane, have to watch our games. I'm so I'm a

16:09

lot of people Canada selling can see to do. Saw

16:11

the way up into the last very last game, so

16:14

on we had that ship on our shoulders know and

16:16

that's the only thing that mattered was what was in

16:18

that locker room in an effort that we put forward

16:20

for they had invested in one another. So you know

16:22

through a lot of adversity to have perseverance we believe

16:25

than one another. It's and I think that that can

16:27

take you along with. Humans. And influence

16:29

and pretty good players. Washington's what you see

16:31

how how to risk of stress on the

16:33

fence. You had other really good receivers in

16:36

the thought about what their complaints procedure would

16:38

kill, teaches absolutely and on seven into a

16:40

seven out of a you know very good

16:42

wide receiver corps intuit you know another great

16:44

one. So I'm for me is it's very

16:46

reminiscent of Zach that exact same situation. and

16:49

I think when you have a wide receiver

16:51

corps like this in a quarterback who can

16:53

you know for the ball and you on

16:55

the field from anybody position from anywhere on

16:57

the field? I'm. It just creates too many

16:59

problems for defenses. You know it puts lot assholes

17:02

and defenses and you have a lot of solutions

17:04

for differ Cupboards is so does have a now

17:06

available at ease and haven't I'm in a wide

17:08

receiver corps that can out there and make plays

17:10

and could back to make plays any given moment

17:12

may it's hard for any difference that compose a

17:15

game plan for that should for it. Sounds

17:18

of actually. Part

17:21

of. Perception

17:23

of reality of Chicago

17:26

Bears that office. At

17:29

best. Years of her death you like

17:31

that idea of changes from definitely definitely not.

17:33

I'm from Seattle where where people thought you

17:35

know how can you have off and like

17:37

we did number one passing in the nation

17:39

when it rains like that and how can

17:41

you compete to those conditions and you know

17:43

people say as code and is not the

17:46

environments as success out here it's in in

17:48

Chicago and for me to I'll have them

17:50

I said at all you know to be

17:52

able to coming years I'm iron and for

17:54

us to do exactly whoa what we we

17:56

say we're gonna do and that's have a

17:58

lot of success on often since and. The

18:00

points on the boards or to win

18:02

games and employed seem orientated football so

18:04

we're going to play our part to

18:06

it. Seeks amon offices out of the

18:08

ball and bomb You know everybody's perception

18:10

I think will consider to shift from

18:12

when when you food. Perfect.

18:15

That drill wife of what is it went

18:17

for them is you have over time in

18:19

fact that stream I think for me I

18:21

had told everybody that I was going to

18:24

finish the Combine in and I was gonna

18:26

compete in everything that I did so. What

18:29

when I was going? Through that process I wasn't there

18:31

weren't giving me a time because it and say

18:33

I was doing some the drill exactly how they

18:35

wanted to done so to me I'll I leave

18:38

in that field. So I had completed every single

18:40

task that said I was gonna completes as as

18:42

me as a man up the like I hold

18:44

my words that very very sternly and doing what

18:46

I say I'm going to do and it was

18:48

my goal to go out there and compete every

18:50

single thing and the com and so I wouldn't

18:53

emily the field loza. Into that.

18:58

Are there you Go that was quizzed. listen

19:00

as they can play as well as they

19:03

can talk your when and multiple Superbowl and

19:05

I don't have you done in a disrespectful

19:07

fast know I know I made it is

19:09

really hated him to a this that the

19:12

tell and says is undeniable but also the

19:14

presentation I wrote down three words: smarts, authentic,

19:16

engaging and I think all three words or

19:18

good adjective to describe both of these young

19:21

men. And either. geez, if there's

19:23

a reason to be excited, you know, ah

19:25

in a lot of reasons to be excited

19:27

about the the newest members of the Chicago,

19:29

but I think that's the only way to

19:31

proceed as a fan his own. Again, you

19:33

fan the way you want a fan. I'm

19:36

not going a yellow you if you, if

19:38

you're skeptical are you wanna be a little

19:40

more cautious? But I really do believe that

19:42

this is a new day in age. I

19:44

like the way they have rebuilt it from

19:46

the start. I like the way he's made

19:48

moves from the start. they've done all worked

19:50

out but he has not. Been scared to

19:52

take big swings even when a big swing

19:55

here or there hasn't worked out is as

19:57

and prevented him from taking the next big

19:59

swing. The best example of

20:01

that is the I Chased Claypool

20:03

situation but it didn't prevent him

20:06

from making demands as sweaty up

20:08

and die he just when he's

20:10

done to this wide receiving a

20:12

crew from from the start of

20:14

the first year when he took

20:16

over to once this wide wrists

20:18

it's going to be the greatest

20:21

wide receiving unit the Bears have

20:23

ever had. My father ever in

20:25

like it was pretty good with

20:27

with a with with what they

20:29

had under Cutler. When.

20:31

And ran in and outside. And and

20:33

who was the third that I know

20:36

it was this. You know you had

20:38

Martellus as the tight end and you

20:40

had Forte who is a great success

20:42

on around. At about it was a

20:44

greater sense of huddle. This one's better

20:46

all the way around. This

20:48

one's This one's much better all the

20:50

way around, and I like the mixture

20:52

of that. I like the mixture of

20:54

Tina now and be, the last year

20:57

of his deal, who's been there and

20:59

done that deeds remorse in the prime

21:01

of his career, playing for a new

21:03

deal, two years away from math, and

21:05

a rookie on a controllable five year

21:07

deal right now Tied with that the

21:09

quarterback look. This is exactly how I

21:11

hope it at all played out, either.

21:14

We were universally behind them selecting Caleb

21:16

Williams. Obviously, I think he was the.

21:18

Best prospect in the draft. I these as

21:20

the most upside of any of the quarterbacks

21:22

in the draft. I'm. You.

21:25

Know I I still believe the Marvin

21:27

Harrison junior probably the most talented wide

21:29

receiver in this year's draft, but I

21:31

prefer to dunes A over neighbors now.

21:34

Or I didn't watch every snap of every

21:36

game. But. And.

21:38

And I it's had neighbors been there

21:40

selection. I would have been excited about

21:43

that as well. but I just think

21:45

this kids a more complete receiver. He's

21:47

more technically sound in my humble opinion.

21:50

He does it black speed. He does

21:52

it black size. He really doesn't lack

21:54

anything. Ah, i'm so i'm

21:56

thrilled that see was the guy that

21:59

that they some at nine and as

22:01

I said if neighbors in Odunze

22:04

were on the board and you could have

22:06

had your choice of either I would have

22:08

chosen Odunze so very happy to see

22:10

what they've done in the first day of the draft. How

22:12

many times have we been together for a Bears first round

22:14

pick? Five? Six?

22:17

Together watching an actual draft? We

22:19

were together for the Mitch draft.

22:21

That one was very perplexing. We

22:24

were there the year after I don't know if they

22:26

had a pick but we were there together for a

22:28

draft. Obviously we were together

22:30

last year and I

22:32

want to say we've been together for

22:34

another draft. Yeah. And then last year

22:36

we were together or this last night

22:38

we were together. For me and this is

22:41

what I want we've heard the

22:43

two interviews with Black and Abdallah while

22:45

we were driving back. We heard the

22:47

press conferences. What I want to hear

22:49

from fans is what was the experience

22:52

like watching and how do you feel

22:54

now like 20 hours afterwards?

22:57

Emotionally as fans. Like that's the

22:59

fun part about being a fan

23:01

is it's an emotional experience. You're

23:03

fanatic. But for me even

23:05

though I knew that Caleb Williams was

23:07

being drafted by the Bears and

23:10

I said this when we were on the YouTube

23:12

channel with Cap. It was not

23:14

an anticlimactic moment. It wasn't a whole

23:16

hum experience for me. It like

23:19

I was more excited than

23:21

I thought I was going to be

23:23

earlier in the day. And like it

23:25

there was a lot of juice there

23:27

at Soldier Field. But Caleb Williams brought

23:29

a lot of juice to the to

23:32

the stage. Like he is an excitable

23:34

guy and I was

23:36

just over the top enthusiastic feeling

23:38

great about it and then the

23:41

rush of watching those

23:43

picks go and seeing what neighbors

23:45

or Roma doomsday fall

23:47

to them especially after the one

23:50

offensive lineman I wanted go early to

23:52

the Chargers. Would one of the wide

23:55

receivers fall to them and when the Falcons made

23:57

their move and you're like a

23:59

doomsday's they Is polls

24:01

going to make the obvious choice, make it

24:03

simple, and sure enough they did. I think

24:05

the graphic the pick is in happened pretty

24:08

quickly. So it made you almost...

24:10

Well, you knew that. Yeah, I mean, that was...

24:13

They rushed it. Yeah, they ran

24:15

the pick to the commissioners' podium

24:17

because I think they wanted

24:19

to make sure there wasn't a mistake, that the

24:21

Atlanta Falcons had been punked by somebody. Yeah, we

24:24

will play you more of the sound of the

24:26

night, and there's a really good rant from our

24:29

buddy, Kyle Brandt, who's a big

24:31

Bears fan. He did like a

24:33

Cardinal, like my Cubs Cardinal rant I did in

24:35

15. He did one for the

24:37

Bears, and it came from the heart. It was delicious.

24:40

But I want to get your

24:42

thoughts after all that we've heard now from

24:44

the press conferences and the interviews. As a

24:47

fan experience, how do you feel today? They

24:49

didn't win a game, but

24:52

maybe you feel like they won a lot

24:54

more in the grand scheme of things, setting

24:56

the table up for maybe

24:58

a franchise-shaping draft, at least in a

25:01

first round. 3-1-2-3-3-2-3-7-7-6. I

25:05

want to take all of your phone calls coming

25:07

up next. Listen

25:09

to us now, live on the

25:11

ESPN Chicago app. Listen

25:14

to the show in HD at 100.3 HD2FS. Listen

25:19

now on ESPN 1000. This

25:24

is Guadalupe filming ESPN

25:26

Chicago. Chicago's home for

25:28

sports. I think

25:30

you just kind of wanted to get a feel for everybody in the

25:32

organization. What

25:35

were we about in terms of like, what's

25:37

our direction, what's our north star, how are we

25:40

going to get there? And

25:42

I think through our actions, we've

25:44

shown that. And,

25:47

you know, history is the history. Like, I'm kind of

25:49

done talking about it. Like, we

25:51

go back so much all the time and those

25:54

days are over. So we're

25:56

bringing players in here that want to really

25:59

just... change everything up and do things a different

26:01

way. Obviously we love

26:04

our history here, but it

26:07

hasn't been smooth recently, and

26:09

it's time to change. So I just

26:12

feel like we gotta start going back all the

26:14

time. I love that. I love that

26:16

answer. Ryan Pohl's last night, about

26:19

the quarterback and about the

26:22

lack of success that they've had. Look,

26:24

it's a reflex and it's understandable because if you've

26:26

been a fan of this team over the course

26:29

of the last several decades, this has been the

26:31

reality. But as we've also said a number of

26:33

times, you can't pin the

26:35

sins of a previous regime or a

26:37

previous coaching staff on the existing guys.

26:39

It's just, you can't do it. You

26:41

have to judge them based on

26:43

how they perform and

26:45

how they deliver. Yep. For

26:47

those of you who are listening to us

26:50

and you're like, it doesn't sound like they're

26:52

in a bar today. We were supposed to

26:54

be at Buffalo Wild Wings in Woodridge. If

26:56

you went out there or you were about

26:58

to go out there, we apologize. We had

27:01

technical difficulties. We will make it up to

27:03

you. We appreciate your patience. Thank you to

27:05

Miller Lite and Buffalo Wild Wings for

27:08

dealing with that. Things happen

27:11

and we made it back through the rain down

27:13

to 88 and 290 and we are back

27:16

in our State Street studio and talking to you,

27:18

the Bears fan. Thought I was gonna have to

27:20

trade in my vehicle for a boat at one

27:23

point because of the rain, but we made it.

27:25

We made it. That's right. So

27:27

let's take your calls. How do you feel Bears

27:29

fans? Three, one, two, three, three, two, three, seven,

27:31

seven, six. We tell you, I give you results

27:33

of a poll question that I did last night.

27:36

But first let's go to the phones. Aaron and

27:38

Madison, you're on ESPN 1000. What's up Aaron? Aaron.

27:45

We're off to a flying start. I think you

27:47

may have called the number out at the Buffalo

27:49

Wild Wings on Woodridge. Let's go

27:51

to Jimmy on the North side, her old buddy.

27:53

He'll be there. What's up Jimmy? What's

27:56

up fellas? Come on guys. It's the

27:58

phone. That's the. that today. You don't

28:00

have to answer right now, do you, Jimmy?

28:03

You pants are completely off. I'm

28:05

full Rick Sutcliffe, Tom. I mean,

28:07

there is no room for

28:11

anything more fulfilling

28:13

than today. I'm going to tell you what,

28:16

somebody to your point, like

28:18

last night was different. I

28:20

had my three boys down to watch

28:22

the draft. And like

28:24

for the first time, they were dialed into

28:27

like some sort of sporting event. And

28:29

I'm like, you guys, three knuckleheads

28:31

could not be luckier. Look

28:34

at the team that that they

28:36

have right now, compared

28:38

to two to three years ago.

28:40

It's incredible. And Caleb

28:43

Williams, when he saw Roma doomsday, you know

28:45

what he said? Let's hold each other accountable.

28:47

That's what I want to hear, man. I love

28:50

that. That's why it's bear down. And I was

28:52

I was so excited when when the way he

28:54

was excited when they drafted Roma doomsday to he's

28:56

like, I want to spike this water bottle. He

29:00

like and the joy that both of

29:02

them had like, like, I don't

29:04

know if you saw this too, like, it's

29:06

a different animal up there now too, with

29:09

the changes that they're making. They're doing that.

29:11

They're, well, this is this is not the

29:13

press conference. Now, they're doing like a meet

29:15

and greet with some of the regular media

29:19

members like the writers were just

29:21

Roma doomsday and Caleb Williams are

29:23

they're sitting in a circle and

29:25

they're just shooting the you know

29:27

what, without micro, you know,

29:30

without microphone stuff off the record stuff. They

29:32

just had the press conference. Now they're doing

29:34

this. I think this is another sign that

29:36

business is being done differently on

29:39

all fronts. Because business hasn't

29:41

worked there. And I'm so

29:43

excited. I just want to give him $3 billion.

29:46

That's how good yesterday. Let's

29:48

just build a whatever, man. Yeah, a flawed

29:50

stadium with all of our money. That's

29:53

I Think we can do more than one thing

29:55

at a time. I think we can have two

29:58

times going to same time as mature. Can't

30:00

we? Now I think that's now. It's

30:02

often they are in that's a way

30:04

of kneller puffing out assessing. See, I

30:06

told you. that's why they did the

30:08

press conference. And when I say that

30:10

I didn't sedated, not on any more

30:12

mellower words. I guess maybe the I

30:14

think everyone down in Springfield completely forgot

30:16

about that just because the Bears had

30:18

an exciting ninety to draft cell lines.

30:20

It was awesome. I haven't been this

30:22

excited to be family. you know, was

30:24

it was built on a since tooth.

30:26

I was the Nfc Championship game at

30:28

Soldier Field when the be the Saints.

30:30

That's the last time I've been this

30:33

excited to be a Bears fan. Twenty

30:35

team, The Coolio Max deal. I

30:37

don't think I was excited I would

30:39

look. I loved it. Something in twenty

30:41

team I see I liked the midst.

30:43

I was not be all like Mitt.

30:45

I'm still skeptical about soil but those

30:47

are still wins. They were winning the

30:49

division that year. It's

30:52

true, But. I truly think I

30:54

don't think I was. I was so little

30:56

skeptical at that time that we entered. I

30:58

load assistance from Springfield. They've completely reverse course

31:01

and they are all in L Gf they're

31:03

throwing no to build an extra billion Yeah,

31:05

just for for You know what I do

31:07

is Jeff Corwin Rolling Meadows you're on E

31:10

S P N One thousand A problem. A

31:12

search area up. Perfect as

31:14

one that say. Requested

31:17

Alipio. I feel. Satisfied.

31:21

With all. The. Fair. To

31:25

over employer that could.

31:28

Overtake it. And I gotta

31:30

say even more than a quality of the

31:32

young men they were getting, they seem to

31:34

be a thing to be what they're representing

31:37

to be a the rethink the people. That

31:40

I gotta say, That. Have

31:42

a job. Finally,

31:45

Get that like lion whole quality

31:47

General Manager of this. Is

31:50

building a free inside

31:52

The Building Inspector. look

31:55

no further than feel at seemed into the

31:57

tub with be like but if we. We've.

32:00

Got the police as employees to get a

32:02

World Series. I can't wait to see of

32:04

get a couple Super Bowl Sure and isn't

32:07

a scale of Williams plays like we think

32:09

he's going to play these. The deal that

32:11

he made with Carolina will go down in

32:13

history as the greatest deal in Chicago sports

32:16

history. I don't think it will be close

32:18

If Taleb Williams is the player. We think

32:20

he's going to buy one or all of

32:22

the pieces now. And. They still have

32:25

a second round pick. Next. Year

32:27

next year from that is from Orlando. well

32:29

are you asking what are the pieces and

32:31

Israel think was over out of mala So

32:33

it's it's Caleb Williams Dj more. Tiring.

32:36

Stevenson Darnell right to throw in doosra

32:38

when the extra fourth round pick that

32:41

they got to do goals I think

32:43

reducing trade down one rapper yeah we're

32:45

nine to ten I mean I guess

32:47

if you wanna like really make an

32:49

overwhelming I think you can it's from

32:51

the tree like it's from the to

32:54

trade free at a came from the

32:56

Eagles v of the number nine pack.

32:59

Ah but those though as and next year

33:02

second round pick which should be towards the

33:04

top of the sack. I'd suggest the keeps

33:06

on giving. And he insists

33:08

about. Fifty

33:11

like a yes he'd been see should

33:13

be able to throw for four thousand

33:15

yards. Next year I would zig with

33:17

the group inside that huddled yeah I

33:20

mean like that That is not an

33:22

unrealistic goal right? You have these it

33:24

more. Who's who caught thirteen hundred yards?

33:26

Yeah you have seen in Allen who

33:29

is a perennial one thousand yard receiver

33:31

with when he's at other weapons on

33:33

the field. You have called com that.

33:36

You. Have one of the a great players

33:38

from this year's draft who is a stud

33:41

receiver Do They had sixteen hundred yards receiving

33:43

I think like this past year. House right

33:45

a you as. Ah, Of really

33:47

good running back who catches the ball.

33:49

Address tell ya de de Andre Swift

33:51

is gonna sit nicely and that huddle

33:54

a you know you have an offensive

33:56

coordinator who hopefully is better at calling

33:58

plays in last year's offensive court. There

34:00

it definitely a possibility For sure a

34:02

realistic possibility where they go Over the

34:04

last several years we ever thoughts for

34:06

number of reasons including the the infrastructure

34:08

the huddle didn't have all the pieces

34:10

you just resigned Yes, but I don't

34:12

think there was ever a time when

34:15

I thought that they were going to

34:17

come close to a for thirty thousand

34:19

yard passing season. My ever buy gear

34:21

on E S P N One thousand

34:23

what's going on. Here.

34:26

At all the couple weeks ago and

34:28

I voice like a song about care

34:30

the royals in his late the census

34:33

at ease with his fingernails and those

34:35

choices and but. I. Gotta say

34:37

and I think more. People.

34:39

Should call in and eat crow like

34:41

I am right now because I, I,

34:43

I really do. I'm I'm excited. Based.

34:46

On what I see him and how he

34:48

old themselves. That

34:50

I paid a lot of you

34:52

said you wrote on Three words

34:54

said: Smart Ah, authentic and engaging

34:57

up. In I I saved.

34:59

More than smart. I think he's intelligent. I

35:01

know it's it's very, it's a certain number.

35:04

And I when he would you said that he

35:06

did his research on the Bears. I don't know

35:08

if he did research and other tools to innovate

35:10

and in a whip he really thought of where

35:13

he was. He like ball in the draft or

35:15

not. but for someone to do that. Of

35:17

and I know that's just Roma do they and

35:19

himself. I know that job that didn't mention doing

35:21

their belief I don't think you mentioned do an

35:23

effort. To have those two

35:26

guys together and do have them for

35:28

five years a know? as out on

35:30

a rookie contract? I? I don't know.

35:33

I'm more excited about this team

35:36

and I'm I'm a Saint Louis

35:38

Cardinal fan. I'm from Southern Illinois

35:40

originally. I'm more excited about the

35:42

bears than I am about my my team,

35:44

and in St. Louis Cardinals, obviously they stop

35:46

this your well, I hope. I

35:48

would hope our for your Cardinals think

35:50

rain and internals of the during seven

35:53

wins the Bears had last year. When

35:56

I was a bear fan growing up and I

35:58

was in the Peyton years. And so

36:01

I have

36:04

always been a Bears fan in some way, shape or

36:06

form, but moving up here after I got on the Marine

36:08

Corps, I was always a Bears fan.

36:11

And this is the most excited I've ever

36:13

been for it. And I was a Justin

36:15

Fields guy, because I'm

36:17

a whole Ohio State fan. I was

36:19

sad to see him leave. I wish

36:22

he had this group of people when he

36:24

was here. And I wish him

36:26

the best in Pittsburgh, which I do

36:28

think he can do well there. But

36:32

man, I'm really excited about this one.

36:34

I would like to hear you're willing

36:36

to fast up and you're willing to

36:38

say that you were wrong and you

36:40

were prejudging someone before you actually heard

36:42

him speak and listened to

36:44

him. That's

36:47

correct. I mean, there was, I

36:50

do have some precedence with

36:53

that. With that, well,

36:55

you know, some other things I've done in

36:57

life or seen in life, but I'm glad

36:59

I was wrong with Caleb. Okay.

37:01

Mike, thank you. We're all very, very

37:03

optimistic. I've also, I've heard some things

37:06

or seen some things where people have

37:09

said, well, I wish they would have given

37:11

Justin all

37:13

of this to work with. And

37:15

I think we've been very vocal about

37:18

how we are totally

37:20

aware of the fact that the

37:22

infrastructure for Caleb Williams is significantly

37:24

better than it was for Justin

37:26

Fields. But how I would respond

37:28

to people that would want to

37:30

have that conversation is, you're right,

37:33

but I believe in their hearts up at

37:36

Hallis Hall, they believe they've got a better

37:38

quarterback now than they had before. So

37:40

whether or not it can be true,

37:42

both can be true that yes, they

37:45

have improved the talent in the offensive

37:47

huddle, starting with a quarterback that they

37:49

believe strongly has a much higher ceiling

37:51

and floor Than the quarterback

37:53

that has been here for the last three years.

37:55

Yeah. I Want to give a shout out to

37:57

our great friends and partners at a Hard Work.

38:00

I could see know they are

38:02

are title partner for Bears football

38:04

and I love that plays football

38:06

fast is always outstanding at a

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hard right to see no Northern

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Indiana. Ah I'm who. Who's the

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comedian who dated Kim Kardashians? which

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is a bit so He Davidson?

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I said I saw P. Davidson

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is going to Hard Rock Casino

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soon this spring. I think

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I saw he's gotta show com or

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not I would love to see him

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Now I'm Susannah too hard on Casino

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Northern Indiana for their partnership for our

38:32

Bears football including our Bears draft coverage

38:34

which you're hearing the right now so

38:36

thank you to them. Also thanks everyone

38:38

for their patience for today's Us Technical

38:41

difficulties that we had a Buffalo Wild

38:43

Wings. We will make that one up

38:45

as well. Coming up next Tyler, Something

38:47

on your Instagram page caught my eye.

38:50

A video that you saw last by

38:52

it's. I want to know if you

38:54

notice this is, well, And. Results

38:56

from our last night poll question.

38:58

I don't know if I've ever

39:01

seen so many Bears fans agree

39:03

on something like they are. Right

39:05

now, it's waddling Sylvie model and

39:08

Sylvie from our stinks three studios.

39:10

He or a hellish commute home

39:12

we're there with you. make a

39:15

it pair of all. Never

39:20

mind back to one with

39:22

Sylvie on E S P

39:24

N Chicago or Definition of

39:26

have suffered a great moment

39:28

to see the want to

39:30

be a great season so

39:32

everything sorted and with a

39:34

bad deal with for. My

39:38

drive home yesterday to do more with just

39:40

your hat on Fair! Great stuff from those

39:42

who yesterday in our drop coverage here. And

39:45

your home for the Bears brought to you

39:47

by Hardrock Casino northern Indiana. He has Pm

39:49

one. Thousand. Suns C

39:51

C does it have long sound

39:54

bites but he says a lot

39:56

says you know what I'm saying

39:58

like right there. That

40:01

was sure, but he's like we better have

40:03

ten wins. Like it's different

40:05

when I say i don't like that

40:07

in like ten wins or boss eg,

40:09

More is telling you they better have

40:12

ten wins Next year a Dj More

40:14

was psyched about hey we gotta go

40:16

to an audience All the division teams

40:18

Dj more was talking about how smooth

40:20

of a receiver of doomsayers because they

40:23

they worked out together and it was

40:25

because he or guy who's been Zadok

40:27

she's got traits that will remind you

40:29

someone of Tina now and now. He's

40:31

got better speed and out especially this

40:34

stage. Of his career. But. They're

40:36

both big body receivers, kind of what

40:38

long and lean. So.

40:41

Yeah. I mean it's it's can be a

40:43

dynamic receiving corps unlike anything they'd seen. So

40:46

I'm trying to look where the I had

40:48

to pull up last night. I did the

40:50

poll last year. I bet she had the

40:53

poll of last Now I goodness raised a

40:55

lot. I. Haven't called the doctor

40:57

either. And that is that as

40:59

a concern of mine. Ah, what grade do

41:01

you give the Bears for their first round

41:03

selection? Ah, that's a good solid as anything

41:06

other than in A. And you're just you're

41:08

years to try to be a contrary. It's

41:10

all brought to you by your local Chicago

41:12

land Toyota dealers. This with a twist though.

41:17

The first grade is an A plus.

41:19

The. Second grade is in A, the

41:21

third grade is an A minus

41:23

and the fourth grade says you

41:26

only get out for options on

41:28

your twitter. Paul is be karma

41:30

see com A D Tama ass

41:32

So basically you're fourth grade. It's

41:34

anything but. A category of

41:36

an end. So. A Plus, a

41:39

minus or anything else B C

41:41

D R r Us. So.

41:44

Would you say is leading the

41:46

way right now. With. Bit we

41:48

have had. Twelve. Thousand

41:51

votes on this poll Question? You

41:53

still four hours devoe? He could

41:55

vote on my twitter handle Out

41:58

waddling Sylvie I'm going to. They

42:00

with the raging bear claws that are

42:02

out there I'm going to say the

42:04

leading vote getters a plus for do

42:07

you guys think Tyler Mauer. Ongoing

42:10

Plaza. Listen, if you don't vote, A

42:12

plus, what's wrong with you? That's my

42:14

only question. Seventy eight point Nine percent

42:16

of the people voting. A Plus Fourteen

42:19

point Eight percent of the people voting.

42:21

A. Two. Point: Seven

42:23

percent of the people voting

42:25

A minus. So basically only

42:27

three Point Six percent of

42:29

the people are voting any

42:31

other grade. So we're above

42:33

ninety six percent Giving the

42:36

Bears some form of in

42:38

a when do you ever

42:40

remember. A. Time

42:42

that that the like, over ninety

42:44

six per cent of our listeners

42:46

would grade The Bears. In

42:48

a in any way shape or form

42:51

in agreement of ninety six percent. Never

42:53

know. Know, I

42:56

think this is as unanimous as

42:58

you're going to get with our

43:00

listenership. And then Tyler your video.

43:02

Last, I do know the one

43:04

I'm talking about. Yeah, this is

43:06

when Tyler Tyler has a video

43:08

of. The. Players at

43:11

the Bears watch party

43:13

Watching Tale Williams get

43:15

selected. Did. You take away

43:17

from out what I took away from that. They.

43:20

Are pretty excited. Thousand

43:22

my take away. So who was who was

43:24

there? Who did you sell? It was decline.

43:26

Brisker months has sweat and dj more. So.

43:29

Here's Caleb Williams and remember all the

43:32

talk about. The

43:34

locker and the locker And the locker on

43:37

how are they gonna get over Dj more

43:39

as saying, it's just and Justin's the only

43:41

quarterback we want apply for. Here's

43:43

Dj more with his family. Here's

43:46

your Kwan brisker. Very vocal about Justin.

43:48

Here's. Mine says Sweat who is just new to the

43:51

bears as a key was vocal to. These.

43:54

guys tyler i think i'd your

43:56

video i think all of them

43:58

have their phones out and

44:00

they were videotaping it too. Not

44:03

only were they watching and

44:05

cheering the Bears select Caleb Williams,

44:08

they were videotaping it like we were

44:10

as fans. I think, yeah, Jaquan Briska,

44:13

I'm pretty sure, was live streaming it

44:15

too. And like they just

44:17

were all into how the fans were reacting to

44:19

it all. I mean, that was

44:21

a unanimous cheer when they made

44:24

that pick last night. That's a

44:26

big fat duh too, from me.

44:28

Like anybody who thought that anybody

44:30

in that Bears locker room was

44:32

going to revolt against this outwardly

44:35

or internally, I think that is silly.

44:37

Right. You go to that for your

44:40

guy. Yes. And once he's not your

44:42

guy, it's business. Yes. They

44:44

get no problem with the support they showed

44:46

Justin. But once you move on from it,

44:49

you must be a professional. Which

44:51

of the how many wins in the last two

44:53

years were they most tied to? Now,

44:56

again, I'm not trying to be an ass

44:58

here, but I'm just, you know, I could

45:00

understand if there were 13 win

45:02

team and Justin had gone to the Pro

45:05

Bowl consecutive years and had thrown

45:07

for 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. Like

45:10

I'm not trying to be a tool here any

45:13

more than normal, but I'm just saying, come on,

45:15

people. Anyone who thought that this

45:17

is going to go over well, you

45:19

know what guys respect talent. And

45:21

guess what will happen if Caleb Williams and

45:24

Roma Dunes, they go into that locker room

45:26

and they don't play well. They're

45:28

not going to have the support of the

45:30

locker room. Right. If they go out there

45:32

and ball, they're going to

45:34

be best buddies. Right. Right. Or like the press

45:36

conferences won't mean deadly. No. If they don't go

45:39

out and ball. Of course. Plenty of us. Right.

45:41

It doesn't matter. I believe that. Don't get me

45:43

wrong. This is all this feels really good to

45:45

me. I said to these guys at

45:47

the last break. I can't remember the last time I

45:49

was excited to go up and see an OTA in

45:51

May. Like I want to see these

45:53

guys just out on the field playing ball. But

45:57

let's be honest, like at the end of it. I'm,

46:00

this is warm and fuzzy and this feels

46:02

great, but I'll get

46:04

past this and then it's gonna be,

46:06

let's go. Now let's see

46:08

it translate. Let's all this warm and

46:10

fuzzy feeling stuff then be put into

46:13

play and then let's see the improvement

46:15

that we all expect to see

46:17

from this team. But in

46:19

the moment right now, I encourage everyone to revel

46:21

in it. This is fantastic. All right, all your

46:23

phone calls, your thoughts on what the Bears did

46:25

last night, what you heard today from them. We

46:28

carried their press conference and

46:30

then an hour ago you heard Black and Abdallah talk to

46:32

Kayla Williams and also Roma Dunsey. That

46:35

will be, I don't know if

46:37

it will be on our YouTube page at

46:39

Waddell and Sylvie or their YouTube page

46:41

at Black and Abdallah. Check them out

46:44

both and subscribe to both while you're

46:46

there. And also I wanna play

46:48

you, one insider puts the

46:50

league on notice for

46:52

the Chicago Bears, a great rant that you

46:54

must hear. We will play that coming up

46:57

next.