It's Official Now: Caleb Williams Is Chicago's Future

© Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

Bears fans have heard it time and time again.

"This quarterback is our future! He's legit! The real deal!"

And, as Cyndi Lauper would say, "time after time," they've been disappointed.

Strip the last decade or so of the Bears' history down to the studs, and the glaring issue of inconsistent, rocky quarterback play stares at you with the same vitriol as a Chicago native who just saw you put ketchup on a hot dog.

Caleb Williams: The Real Deal

However, Bears fans can take solace in the fact that Caleb Williams authentically seems to be their quarterback of the future.

One look at the stat sheet from Chicago's 27-3 preseason victory over the Cincinnati Bengals might not paint Williams in a flattering light, but a discerning gander upon the field itself proves why the Heisman Trophy winner is lauded as one of the best rookies in the league.

© Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

With two and a half minutes to play in the first half, Cincinnati showed Williams blanket coverage from its secondary. Instead of prematurely pulling the ball down to run, Williams scrambled left and heaved a beautiful deep ball down the sideline to fellow rookie Rome Odunze for a massive gain.

With Chicago facing third-and-goal a couple of snaps later, the Bengals once again confronted Williams with fantastic coverage. Once again, Williams responded with poise beyond his years, extending the play with his legs rather than heaving the ball into the end zone.

His reward? A touchdown run that's already made every highlight reel in the country and had Bears fans salivating like they'd just seen a slice of Chicago deep dish.

Just The Beginning

At the end of the day, Williams' 6-13, 75-yard performance, throwing the ball against the Bengals, may not scream NFL quarterback, but the incredible, dazzling highlights near the end of the first half show why every scout in the country thought so highly of Williams during his collegiate career.

Think of Williams as the antithesis of Tom Brady when the legend was drafted out of Michigan: Athletic, highly touted, praised as his franchise's next big thing and one of the most marketable players in the league.

We all know how Brady's career ultimately turned out. Now, it's time for Williams to forge his path—one that could have both he and the Chicago Bears on an L Train colliding with destiny.