Mitch Trubisky started 2017 on the bench.
Justin Fields was on the sideline to begin the 2021 season, too.
Not only will Caleb Williams be the Bears’ starter when they begin their season Sunday against the Titans, but he’s a captain, too.
While he’s not alone — the Bears have a whopping eight captains — Williams is the first rookie quarterback ever named a season-long captain for the franchise. He’s the first rookie Bears captain at any position since the NFL codified the system in 2007, and the first on any team Matt Eberflus has ever been a part of.