Caleb Williams Selected No. 1 Overall in 2024 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears
USC quarterback Caleb Williams was selected with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
Williams is USC’s 524th overall draft pick, which ranks second all-time and just one behind Notre Dame’s total of 525.
The USC quarterback has been viewed as the likely No. 1 overall selection in this draft since late in the 2022 season, when it was clear he was making a charge toward that year’s Heisman Trophy and had established himself as arguably the most talented player in college football.
Williams did indeed win the Heisman Trophy that season, finishing the year with 4,537 passing yards and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 42-to-5. He also rushed for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams set a number of USC single-season records in the process. In 2023, despite USC struggling to a 7-5 record in games featuring Williams, he was impressive again. He had a higher completion percentage and better yards-per-attempt than he posted in 2023. Williams threw for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns against five interceptions, and added another 11 scores on the ground.
He’ll be asked to take over as the immediate starter for a Bears franchise that traded away former starter Justin Fields this offseason. The Bears have struggled historically at the position. Chicago hasn’t had a first team All-Pro quarterback since 1950 and it is the only franchise to never have a quarterback throw for at least 30 touchdowns or 4,000 yards in a season
Williams has now helped the USC football program set two all-time records. His Heisman Trophy win following the 2022 season gave the Trojans eight Heisman’s, breaking a tie with Ohio State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. And now the USC sit atop the all-time list for producing No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks, breaking a tie with Georgia, Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
Those No. 1 overall picks include:
Offensive tackle Ron Yary to Minnesota in 1968
Running back O.J. Simpson to Buffalo in 1969
Running back Ricky Bell to Tampa Bay in 1977
Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson to the New York Jets in 1996
Quarterback Carson Palmer to Cincinnati in 2003
Quarterback Caleb Williams to Chicago in 2024
Check in with WeAreSC to find out where the other 2024 NFL Draft Eligible players get taken.
Not a member, USC fans? Join WeAreSC today!
Have you subscribed to WeAreSC.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our USC coverage for just $1! Read all of WeAreSC’s premium articles and nuggets covering USC sports and recruiting and join thousands of other Trojan fans around the globe on the WeAreSC message board! CLICK HERE!
