A group of two dozen agents surveyed by NFL reporter Ben Standig had a surprising answer for who will define the next decade of the NFL. As many would have guessed, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a popular pick, getting four of the votes, good enough for second place. Beating him, though, was a young talent who had a breakthrough in last year's playoffs: Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams.
It's a surprising pick, especially considering that Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen came in third. Allen, recently ranked the second-best player in all of football, is widely considered to be the next face of the league after years of dominance by Mahomes. It certainly doesn't hurt that in addition to Allen's MVP award, he's married to Hollywood actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, adding to his star aura.
Despite that, it's the iconoclastic Williams who seems to have the juice. "Caleb is right there with talent and personality-wise — he’s a different dude," an agent told Standig. "Fascinated to see where his career goes. [Bears HC] Ben Johnson is the perfect, somewhat unconventional coach for him, and they might turn Chicago into an annual contender." As that agent said, Williams definitely has the talent, winning the Heisman Trophy while playing for the USC Trojans.
He also had an excellent performance in his team's win over the rival Green Bay Packers in the playoffs this season, giving fans a highlight moment on which he can further build his legacy. And off the field, Williams is known for supporting other Chicago athletes like Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs and for challenging gender norms, including by painting his nails. Given his on-field performance and headline-making attitude off it, it seems likely that we'll be seeing a lot more Caleb Williams in the future.
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