2024 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears select QB Caleb Williams with No. 1 overall pick in 1st round; Bears take Rome Odunze with 9th pick

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Bears chosen USC quarterback Caleb Williams on Thursday with the No. 1 total choose within the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Bears had one other first-round choose within the draft. They used it to pick out Washington large receiver Rome Odunze because the No. 9 total choose

La Grange Park, Illinois, native and Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 10 total choose within the first spherical.

Many followers who gathered at Soldier Subject Thursday referred to as the night time a watershed second for the franchise.

This is not the primary time a Bears quarterback has come into the group with excessive expectations, however many followers instructed ABC7 they only have a sense this time will likely be completely different.

Bears followers piled into Soldier Subject Thursday night forward of the draft because the Monsters of the Halfway had two first-round draft picks for the primary time in many years. Choosing Williams is a second that followers mentioned might be a recreation changer for the franchise.

“That is the best day within the historical past of the franchise apart from once they received the Tremendous Bowl in 1985,” ESPN Chicago Radio’s David Kaplan mentioned Thursday morning.

Bears hype was reaching a fever pitch Thursday morning, simply hours earlier than the staff drafted the previous USC quarterback and Heisman winner on the very begin of the primary spherical of the NFL Draft in Detroit.

“I have not been with a soccer staff since November 18, so that is the hardest half for me and one thing I actually need to get again to get in a locker room,” Caleb Williams beforehand mentioned.

Williams made an look on the draft purple carpet in Detroit forward of the beginning of the draft to indicate off his search for the night.

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For many who could not be in Detroit for the draft, the watch get together at Soldier Subject was most likely the following neatest thing for Bears followers.

“Tonight is a dream, like I have not had a quarterback my whole life, and now my son goes to get up to an unimaginable quarterback in Caleb Williams,” Bears fan Greg Feltes mentioned.

VIP tickets had been accessible for the United Membership at Soldier Subject, the place ESPN Chicago radio broadcasted the draft from. They remotely interviewed Williams, who appeared by way of hologram from Detroit and promised followers a brand new technology of successful.

“It is nice. I am prepared. I am prepared,” Williams mentioned.

The choose wasn’t a shock, however that didn’t diminish the joy felt by Bears followers.

“It is surreal to be on the sphere to see that occur on the large display, all of the applause round us,” Bears fan Chris Nemeh mentioned. “Actually excited for this second in Bears historical past.”

Hundreds gathered for a sold-out Soldier Subject watch get together, absorbing all issues Bears.

“Hopefully it is their turnaround change from being a pungent staff,” Bears fan Allan Swanson mentioned.

“Let’s Bear down! We’re prepared for it! We’re prepared for it! We’re prepared for everyone,” Bears fan Terry Dunlap mentioned. “And we’ll beat the Packers! Each video games this yr!”

“It is about time we get a franchise QB, and we’re prepared for that 30-plus touchdowns from Caleb Williams, yr one,” Bears fan Steve Albergo mentioned.

An hour after the Williams choose, followers lauded the selection of the Bears’ new large receiver Odunze.

“That is it. That is the beginning of a brand new franchise,” Bears fan Sean Zingsheim mentioned. “Time to rebuild, and take… the previous Bears are gone. That is the brand new Bears.”

The joy was additionally very seen in west suburban La Grange Park, the place College of Michigan quarterback and Nazareth Academy graduate J.J. McCarthy was among the many prime ten chosen.

His former Nazareth coach Tim Rack referred to as him a frontrunner on and off the sphere.

“Extra importantly how he comported himself off the sphere, within the classroom,” Rack mentioned. “Even youngsters that did not play soccer cheered for him as a result of he’s such a pleasant, humble unassuming child.”

Forward of the draft beginning, folks had lined as much as get into Soldier Subject to observe the draft amongst fellow Bears followers, together with numerous gamers.

“And it has been a very long time, a very long time of struggling, a very long time of like, ‘is that this the quarterback? No, it is not,’ however this yr is not like every other,” fan Ali Rothschild mentioned.

By the point the draft rolled round, about 5,000 followers are anticipated to be at soldier discipline. The draft was proven on the jumbotrons, and there was additionally interactive video games on the sphere. Followers had an opportunity to fulfill among the Bears gamers too.

“I actually assume they have all the celebs aligning right here, with the fitting folks within the administrative and govt positions, and so they’re making nice selections, and I believe that is going to be a significant change at this time,” Bears fan Kevin Maynard mentioned.

The staff mentioned the occasion bought out weeks in the past, and it is all due to the joy surrounding the No. 1 total choose.

“I am actually excited for every part’s that going to occur tonight, and I will partake in every part that I probably can and simply let all of it soak in,” Bears fan Marquita Schaeffer mentioned.

Rob Davis handed the time ready for the gates to open by tossing the soccer along with his 7-year-old daughter Payton. She’s named after Walter Payton. Davis was at Soldier Subject to observe the beginning of what many followers hope would be the street to the following Bears Tremendous Bowl staff.

“That is gonna be the draft that motion pictures the Bears future ahead,” Davis mentioned. “Caleb is available in… we beat Inexperienced Bay, win the division, and get to the Tremendous Bowl.”

Among the many crowds was fan Jerry Daughty and his son Bobby, who drove ten hours from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, to be in Chicago to observe.

“Having the ability to be right here and truly with the ability to see it first hand is gonna be unimaginable,” Bobby mentioned.

It was father-son bonding time for them, and so they’re hoping to get some autographs on the Bears helmet they introduced.

“It is a as soon as in a lifetime factor,” Jerry mentioned. “I have been a die-hard Bears fan because the day I used to be born.”

It was the calm earlier than the storm early Thursday afternoon for Victory Faucet within the South Loop.

“I believe that is the yr they will actually take a step ahead, in the event that they do the fitting issues at quarterback,” mentioned Jason Wedner with Victory Faucet.

The bar anticipated a giant crowd of Bears followers to observe the draft.

“On this case, it is universally accepted that Caleb Williams is one of the best prospect,” retired sportswriter Fred Mitchell mentioned.

Because the Bears had two first-round picks, many are hoping for a return to the legendary 1965 draft, when the staff picked future corridor of famers in working again Gale Sayer and legendary center linebacker Dick Butkus with their first two picks. Sadly, that dynamic duo by no means received a championship.

“Chicago has a sports activities downside,” mentioned Shannon Taushman with Firehouse Restuarant. “We’d like this win… want one other Tremendous Bowl. We’d like a generational Bears win.”

It has been simply over twenty years because the Bears had two first spherical picks.

“You are speaking about taking a staff that was irrelevant when it comes to competing for titles and making them one of many favorites within the league going ahead,” Kaplan mentioned.

Life-long Bears fan Preston Braxton mentioned with the Bears having first dibs on the draft, it may usher in a brand new period of Bears soccer.

“Noticed them once they received their first Tremendous Bowl,” Braxton mentioned. “The Bears imply quite a bit to me. It may undoubtedly elevate the town, it has been awhile since ’85. It could undoubtedly deliver again the town.”

Spherical 1 of the draft started at 7 p.m. Thursday on ABC7. Rounds 2 and three will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, with Rounds 4-7 getting underway at 11 a.m. on Saturday.