Caleb Williams returned to where his football journey skyrocketed — and the NFL made sure everyone noticed.

NFL Reacts After Caleb Williams Returns to USC Pro Day to Support Trojans

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams made a special appearance at USC’s 2026 Pro Day, returning to the campus where he became one of college football’s biggest stars.

Williams wasn’t there to showcase his own skills this time.

Instead, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft came back to support the next group of Trojans hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Williams Shows Love to Former Teammates

The event featured 17 USC players participating in drills and interviews with NFL scouts as they attempted to boost their draft stock ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Williams spent time encouraging the prospects and interacting with several former teammates, including wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane.

The Bears quarterback walked around the field greeting players and coaches while watching the workouts.

For many of the prospects, seeing Williams return to support them added extra motivation.

NFL Highlights Williams’ Appearance

The moment caught the attention of the NFL’s official social media accounts, which shared a video of Williams on Instagram during the event.

In the clip, Williams spoke briefly while standing on the field.

“We’re here at USC’s Pro Day,” Williams said.
“Shoutout NFL. Shoutout USC. The Bears.”

The league captioned the post:

“Caleb Williams showing love to the guys at USC’s Pro Day.”

The shoutout quickly gained attention from fans online, with many praising Williams for returning to support his former program.

A Full-Circle Moment

Williams’ appearance also served as a reminder of his own legendary Pro Day performance just two years earlier.

During USC’s 2024 Pro Day, Williams dominated the workout and impressed scouts across the league by completing 46 of 50 passes.

He ended the session with a 60-yard throw to receiver Brenden Rice and even surprised spectators by launching a 40-yard punt, showcasing his athletic versatility.

That performance helped cement his status as the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

A Historic Season With the Bears

Since entering the NFL, Williams has already made a massive impact in Chicago.

In the 2025 season, he led the Bears to:

An 11–6 record
An NFC North championship
The franchise’s first playoff win in 15 years

Williams also set a new Chicago Bears franchise record with 3,942 passing yards, further solidifying his role as the team’s franchise quarterback.

Eyes on the 2026 Season

Williams will soon return to Chicago as the Bears prepare for their 2026 offseason program, which begins in April.

With head coach Ben Johnson continuing to build the roster around him, expectations are growing that Williams could lead Chicago on a deeper playoff run — and possibly even a Super Bowl push.

For now, though, the young quarterback took a moment to give back to the program that helped launch his career.

And judging by the NFL’s reaction online, fans loved seeing it.