A new teammate… a former division rival… and just one weekend together was enough.
It didn’t take long for Caleb Williams to win over his new Bears center.

Caleb Williams Already Winning Over New Bears Teammate After Quick First Impression

The Chicago Bears were forced to make a sudden adjustment this offseason when veteran center Drew Dalman unexpectedly retired, leaving a major hole in the middle of the offensive line.

But the front office wasted little time finding a solution.

Chicago quickly finalized a trade with the New England Patriots to acquire veteran center Garrett Bradbury, a move designed to bring stability back to the interior of the offensive line.

And before Bradbury even took the field with his new team, one thing became clear:

Quarterback Caleb Williams had already made a strong impression.

A Weekend That Changed Bradbury’s First Impression

After passing his physical and being officially introduced as a member of the Bears, Bradbury revealed that he had already spent time with Williams during the weekend.

That brief interaction was apparently enough to convince him that Chicago’s young quarterback is the real deal.

“I’ve heard great things about him, and that reaffirmed everything I’ve heard,” Bradbury said. “He’s an awesome guy, he’s obviously an awesome player, so I’m looking forward to getting to work with him.”

For Bears fans hoping Williams will become the long-term face of the franchise, hearing that kind of praise from a veteran offensive lineman is encouraging.

Especially considering Bradbury spent years competing against Chicago.

From Rival to Teammate

Bradbury entered the NFL as a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019, spending several seasons battling the Bears as an NFC North rival.

After leaving Minnesota, he joined the New England Patriots, where he started at center during their 2025 season and protected quarterback Drake Maye during the team’s run to Super Bowl LX.

Now he finds himself in a completely different role: protecting one of the league’s most promising young quarterbacks in Chicago.

Bradbury’s Solid 2025 Performance

Despite moving teams, Bradbury remained a steady presence on the offensive line last season.

According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed:

20 pressures across 1,070 regular-season snaps
No penalties during the entire regular season

During the Patriots’ playoff run—stretching from the Wild Card round to the Super Bowl—Bradbury allowed nine pressures and two sacks across 264 snaps.

While not perfect, those numbers reflect a reliable veteran capable of handling heavy workloads against elite competition.

That experience is exactly what the Bears hope will help stabilize their offensive line.

The Bears Acted Quickly After Dalman’s Retirement

Dalman’s sudden retirement could have created a major offseason problem for Chicago.

Instead, the Bears responded quickly.

The team sent a 2027 fifth-round pick to New England in exchange for Bradbury, ensuring they wouldn’t enter the season without an experienced center.

For a team building around a young quarterback like Williams, protecting the middle of the line is critical.

Centers are responsible for calling protections, reading defensive fronts, and anchoring the offensive line’s communication.

Bradbury’s veteran presence should help provide that stability.

A Strong Start to the Partnership

Even though Bradbury has only just arrived in Chicago, the early signs of chemistry between him and Williams appear promising.

The quarterback has already impressed his new teammate both on and off the field.

For the Bears organization, that matters.

Building a strong connection between the quarterback and the center is often one of the most important relationships in an offense.

If Williams and Bradbury develop that trust quickly, Chicago’s offense could take a significant step forward in the coming season.

And based on Bradbury’s early impressions, that partnership may already be off to a strong start.