Tom Brady reacts to Caleb Williams’ pursuit of eight Super Bowls in his NFL career originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Even though Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams admires Aaron Rodgers more than any NFL quarterback in history, he’s rooting for the unanimous GOAT in sports: Tom Brady.
“I want to play one place for 20 years and chase one guy, No. 12 (Tom Brady),” Williams said on “The Pivot” podcast before being drafted by the Bears.
On the lock screen of his iPhone, Williams writes down his short- and long-term goals. One was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He did that. Another, the most glaring, is winning eight — yes, eight — Super Bowls.
That would surpass Tom Brady’s whopping seven rings, which is the impetus behind the goal. On the NFL Network, Brady responded to Williams’ goal of chasing his career legacy.
“Everyone’s going to find different ways for motivation. And that’s certainly one way Caleb can find it,” Brady said. “A lot of people will find different motivations. I’ve found the ways I’ve found that have been helpful to me.”
Williams made his lofty goals known to the Bears well before he was drafted. Between his top-30 visit to the team and the NFL Draft, Williams reportedly kept in touch with the Bears, telling them in separate Zoom sessions about his goals to surpass Brady’s legacy.
Those are incredibly lofty goals for a rookie quarterback; someone who hasn’t taken an NFL snap yet. Williams isn’t even a national champion, despite winning the Heisman Award in 2022. His USC Trojans finished a disappointing season in 2023 with an 8-5 record.
Brady acknowledges that Williams’ goals are lofty. But he admires the motivation and refuses to discourage a young athlete who wants to become the best in the game.
“I think there’s a lot that goes into winning one (Super Bowl),” Brady said. “And you have to set your goals high. I would never tell anyone that they can’t achieve anything. If people had told me I couldn’t achieve anything, it would have been discouraging. And I don’t want people to discourage young athletes.”
Williams cited his work at Gonzaga College Prep and USC for his belief in helping the Bears win multiple Super Bowls. He said on “The Pivot” that people from every community showed him gratitude for his continued efforts and success on the field.
The Bears are hungry for a Super Bowl. They haven’t been there since 2006 and they haven’t won one since 1985. The franchise’s recent history has been tortured, mired in mediocrity, and consistently irrelevant.
But Williams wants to change that. And Brady is excited to see the outcome.
“I think people should always reach for the stars,” Brady said. “Certainly, young quarterbacks in the league have a lot of opportunities. But their careers will be made by what they choose to do. And the work they put in and the relationships they develop with their teammates and the organizations they can influence.
“They should have high goals. But at the same time, it’s hard to achieve them. And I’m really looking forward to seeing that process unfold. That’s definitely where the hardest part comes.”
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