Tom Brady Responds to Caleb Williams’ Goal of Making 8 Super Bowls in His NFL Career originally appeared on KeynoteUSA Sports Chicago
Although Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams admires Aaron Rodgers more than any NFL quarterback in history, he is going after the unanimous GOAT in the sport: Tom Brady.
“I want to play one place for 20 years and chase one player, 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 his short- and long-term goals. One was being the number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He did that. Another, the most striking, is winning eight (yes, eight) Super Bowls.
That would surpass Tom Brady’s seven rings, which is the momentum behind the goal. On NFL Network, Brady responded to Williams’ goal of pursuing the legacy of his career.
“Everyone is going to find different ways to motivate themselves. And that’s certainly one way Caleb can find it,” Brady said. “A lot of people will find different motivations. I found the ways I did it that were helpful to me.”
Williams expressed his lofty goals to the Bears long before he was drafted. Between his visit to the top-30 team and the NFL Draft, Williams reportedly stayed in touch with the Bears, telling them in separate Zoom sessions about his goals of surpassing Brady’s legacy.
Those are incredibly high goals for a rookie quarterback; one who has yet to participate in an NFL play. Williams isn’t even a national champion, although he did win the Heisman Award in 2022. His USC Trojans finished with a disappointing season in 2023 with an 8-5 record.
Brady acknowledges that Williams’ goals are high. But he admires the motivation and refuses to discourage a young athlete seeking to become the best in the sport.
“I think there’s a lot that goes into winning a (Super Bowl),” Brady said. “And you have to set high goals for yourself. I would never tell anyone that I can’t achieve anything. If people had told me I couldn’t achieve anything, that 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 each community used to show him gratitude for their constant efforts and his success on the field.
The Bears are hungry for a Super Bowl. They haven’t been to one since 2006 and haven’t won one since 1985. The franchise’s recent history is tortured, mired in mediocrity and consistently irrelevant.
But Williams wants to change that. And Brady is excited to see the result.
“I think people should always look for the stars,” Brady said. “Certainly, young quarterbacks in the league have a lot of opportunities. But their career will be based on what they choose to do. And the work they put in and the relationships they develop with their teammates and the organizations they can impact.
“They should have high goals. But at the same time it’s hard to achieve them. And I’m really looking forward to seeing how that process plays out. That’s where the hard part really comes, for sure.”
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