Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has another edge rusher to worry about. Or at least he hopes so, come playoff time.
The Bears don’t have the Rams on their schedule this year. If they play at all, it would have to be a rematch of last season’s playoff thriller. But there’s no question the Bears took notice this week when the Rams, already a Super Bowl favorite, traded for Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett.
Garrett has a case to be the greatest defensive player ever dealt in his prime. Williams showed the edge rusher respect Thursday by referencing Roman history — or maybe a Shakira song.
“Another she-wolf in the NFC,” Williams said during EA Sports’ Opening Drive event at the tip of Navy Pier. “So we’ll hopefully see him at the end of the year, since he’s not on the schedule. Hopefully not. But if we do, it means we’re in the playoffs and we’re rolling. So super excited. Good for them.”
Did he think the Bears would sign a free agent edge rusher this offseason?
“As you know, it’s not my realm … ” he said before invoking Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. “We’re expecting big things from them. We obviously last year got a couple guys [in Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner] that are wanting to be in the position to step up and make plays for us. That’s what we’re waiting on, that’s what we’re wishing for.”
Williams saw one of his wishes come true this week when he was revealed as the cover subject for Madden 27.
Thursday, he was introduced to a crowd of influencers and made podcast appearances while EA Sports unveiled a Madden mini-movie that featured actor Vince Vaughn taking over as GM of the Bears. In a surreal few hours, Williams chatted with former players Cam Newton, Michael Vick and Chad Ochocinco as college mascots from Iowa, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas Tech and Syracuse plodded by in puffy shoes. Williams’ parents were there — and so was teammate Rome Odunze.
The excitement surrounding Williams and the Bears felt like a post-modern version of the Bears’ convention in 2019, when former players declared the team Super Bowl contenders. The Bears have to hope this season better lives up to expectations.
The video game has two separate covers — Williams making a jump throw and, on the deluxe version, him rubbing his arms in his “Iceman” celebration. EA Sports wanted a cover with the jump throw. Williams said putting it in front of the Chicago skyline was his idea. He wanted to pay homage to the famous photo of Michael Jordan dunking with the skyline in the background.
Williams didn’t think he was being too bold in making the comparison. It was a tribute to Jordan, who he’s working on meeting up with soon.
“It was more of a respect thing, bringing retro back, not letting people forget that, and doing it on my side of the world of football,” he said. “Paying respect to that and him and what he was able to do in Chicago.”
Caleb Williams on @EAMaddenNFL : pic.twitter.com/bQYBXYvKkQ
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) June 5, 2026
Williams has never been afraid to make big plans. Before he was drafted, he famously said he wanted to surpass Tom Brady’s seven Super Bowl rings. When he plays video games, he picks the Bears so he can be the quarterback himself.
Being the first Bears player ever put on the main cover of “Madden” is part of that journey, he said, but not the destination.
“It’s another small steppingstone to tell me to keep going, that I’m going in the right direction …” he said. “I’m in the position I want to be in and I’ve got the people around me, from coach to teammates … [and] my support system to also remind me to keep going. This wasn’t the end-all, be-all goal for me. …
“I’ve got some big goals.”
