Chicago Bears fans erupt in joy as team drafts Caleb Williams at No. 1
CHICAGO (CBS) – Bears fans were fired up in Chicago Thursday night, as the team selected quarterback Caleb Williams as their first No. 1 draft pick in 77 years.
The NFL Draft was held a four-hour drive away in the Motor City. But back in Chicago, the Bears capitalized on all the excitement by hosting a Draft Day party at Soldier Field.
Fans erupted as Williams was selected first overall, and finally became a Bear.
"I'm so excited about this number 1 pick, man - face of the franchise!" said one Bears fan, Jaden. "it's finally nice to have a good quarterback, you know?"
Williams has Bears fans thinking that maybe, just maybe, the long search for a franchise quarterback might be over.
"This is the beginning. I have never had a quarterback, and my son is going to have a quarterback - and he's 2 1/2," said Bears fan Greg Feltes.
Williams was beamed in via hologram at the Draft Day party, for his first chance to speak directly to the Bears faithful.
"It was definitely a moment that I'll never forget," Williams said. "It's something that, you know, very few people ever get to do - the sacrifice, hard work my family, myself have put in."
Along with the NFL Draft, the Bears opened Soldier Field for fans to kick field goals, run the 40-yard dash, spend time, and tour the team locker room.
It is all an effort to build on the excitement of securing two top 10 picks in this year's draft.
"A magic trick by King Poles, Ryan Poles our GM, to pull this off," said Feltes, "and I just can't wait."
While most fans knew what the Bears would do with the first pick, there was a lot of tension when the Bears had No. 9. But the place got wild when the Bears used that pick for Rome Odunze too.