Sitting in the back of the Chicago Bears’ suite, president George McCaskey watched general manager Ryan Poles, coach Matt Eberflus and other staffers interview quarterback Caleb Williams at the NFL Scouting Combine.
It was 10:40 p.m.
“It’s a little later than bedtime,” McCaskey joked.
Williams wasn’t tired, however.
“He was remarkably gregarious, engaged and friendly,” McCaskey said Tuesday at NFL owners meetings. “When they got into football, he was right.”
McCaskey has been here before – literally and figuratively. The Bears’ interview with Williams wasn’t his first at the combine. He has been on many teams, including this year with other quarterbacks and players.
“In the back of the room, keep my mouth shut, eyes and ears open,” McCaskey said.
But Williams’ interview has much more significance. The Bears are once again drafting a quarterback in the first round. There is no turning away from this reality.
The Poles will draft his first quarterback as Bears general manager, but for McCaskey, this selection is different. This quarterback – likely Williams – will be the third selected in the first round since he took over as Bears president in 2011.
McCaskey experienced the excitement of the selections of Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields but also the disappointment of their departures. The Poles, Eberflus and President Kevin Warren cannot say the same.
Is McCaskey ready for all this again?
“It’s up to Ryan and his team and Matt and his team,” McCaskey said. “I think the important thing is, no matter who it is, no matter what position it is, at (Nos.) 1 and 9 or whatever it is, to have the support in place. We have good people in player engagement, in the coaching staff, in the equipment staff, everyone to maximize the chance of success.
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