Caleb Williams, of Nigerian heritage, throws for 308 yards and two scores as Chicago edges New England 30-24 on Thursday night.
Diaspora eyes were on Chicago on Thursday night, where Caleb Williams, the quarterback with Nigerian heritage, outdid friend and fellow young star Drake Maye. The Bears beat the Patriots 30-24 in a quarterback duel that lived up to the hype.
Williams went 22 of 33 for 308 yards and two touchdowns. It was only his second game back after a hamstring injury, and he looked sharp and in control as Chicago kept New England's offense at arm's length.
The night also made some Bears history. Williams is the first Chicago quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games since Mitch Trubisky managed it during a three-game run in 2018. That is a long wait for a franchise that has chased consistent quarterback play for decades.
Maye and the Patriots pushed hard and stayed within a score, but they could not match Chicago's production through the air. For Williams, the win is proof that he is healthy and growing into the franchise quarterback the Bears drafted him to be, with a growing African fanbase watching his rise.