Several great quarterbacks struggled in their rookie year.
In 1998, a rookie quarterback by the name of Peyton Manning threw 28 interceptions with the Indianapolis Colts, the most interceptions of all time by a rookie. The Colts went 3-13 and things looked bleak for the first overall pick and the franchise that drafted him.
All these years later, Manning is now considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and won two Super Bowls. During his retirement press conference, Manning joked he always hopes the next rookie quarterback breaks his record every new season. This article isn’t saying Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will be the one to break it. But pressure should be taken off him.
Manning’s rookie year is an example of why Bears fans should be patient and lower expectations for Williams in Year 1. As a first-round pick who went to one of the biggest media markets in the NFL, Williams doesn’t need anymore pressure.
Williams, arguably the most anticipated quarterback for the Bears since Jay Cutler, should be given a free pass his rookie year–even if he played great in his preseason debut.
The Bears will need to be ready for the rookie quarterback roller coaster
Besides Manning, several rookie quarterbacks struggled in their first year and went on to have great careers.
Tom Brady didn’t even play his rookie year. He was the backup to then-franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Brady threw just three passes in his rookie year, per Pro Football Reference. Now, he’s a seven-time Super Bowl champion.
Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson backed up Joe Flacco for the bulk of his rookie year and didn’t start until late in the season. Now, the two-time MVP for the Baltimore Ravens is one of the NFL’s most fun players to watch.
New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees sat under Doug Flutie during his rookie year with the San Diego Chargers–remember them? Similar to Brady, Brees only threw 27 passes his rookie year. Now, he’s a Super Bowl winner who helped save New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
More recently, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a disastrous rookie year with Urban Meyer as head coach. When the Jags hired Doug Pederson to replace Meyer after one season, Lawrence got back on track and even won a playoff game.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff struggled immensely during his rookie year with the Los Angeles Rams. It was the team’s first year in the City of Angels and Goff was thrown into the gauntlet with high expectations. Unfairly labeled a bust, Goff ended up leading the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018, losing to the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick New England Patriots.
Last season, Goff almost brought the Detroit Lions to their first Super Bowl in franchise history before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
Both Lawrence and Goff are franchise quarterbacks now.
The moral of the story here is that Bears fans should endure the good, bad, and ugly of Williams’ rookie year instead of putting too much pressure on him.
Yes, Williams has all the pieces around him to succeed. But almost every rookie quarterback has to get used to the NFL. Williams will most likely be no different.
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