Bears HBO ‘Hard Knocks’ 2024: Best Fan Tweets, Memes from Episode 1
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“Caleb Williams has the opportunity to be the biggest thing in Chicago since Michael Jordan.”
No pressure, kid.
There is no doubt where the focus is going to be for the Chicago Bears this season, and the first episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks chronicling the team’s training camp started the only place it could on Tuesday.
With Williams under the spotlight.
The show opened with head coach Matt Eberflus calling Williams on draft day to let him know he was the No. 1 overall pick. That was far from the end for the USC product, as radio voiceovers compared him to Jordan as the show used the Chicago Bulls’ famous starting lineup music to introduce him to viewers.
Bleacher Nation Bears @BN_BearsWatching Caleb Williams practice throws set to the Alan Parsons Project has me believing that he’s gonna win at least 12 championships.
Brian Jackson @BrianJacksonTV#HardKnocks doesn’t miss! The throwback to the 90’s Bulls announcer was perfection 👌🏾
Nick @nvt3312When they played the Bulls intro music. #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/DlZxdrTdBu
Jawzie @justjawzieThere no way they got the CHICAGO BULLS ANNOUNCER from the Jordan era to introduce CALEB LITERAL CHILLS!! #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/7XUjhzQmnK
The rookie quarterback was the star of the first episode, which included montages of him learning the offense during practices and meetings as well as the team having quite the reaction when he told them his signing bonus was $25.5 million.
But that didn’t stop them from booing him for a poor performance while singing during the rookie talent show.
NFL @NFLWhen Caleb revealed his signing bonus to the team 😭#HardKnocks with the @ChicagoBears premieres August 6 on @StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/4csvbHmamM
Courtney Cronin @CourtneyRCroninCaleb Williams chose JOHN LEGEND as his rookie karaoke song?
Alex B. Smith @axsmithsportsI pray he doesn’t choke on the field the way he choked at Kareoke. To be fair “Ordinary People” is not an easy song to sing lol. #HardKnocks
Silvy @WaddleandSilvyWe all need @CALEBcsw as a karaoke wingman so we all sound better. 🎤 #DaBears #HardKnocks
Williams is a star, but he wasn’t the biggest star who made an appearance.
Bears defensive back Jonathan Owens is married to Olympics legend Simone Biles, and the team granted him permission to travel to Paris to support her at the Games. The gymnast, who won gold medals in the team competition, individual all-around competition and vault plus silver in the floor exercise, was missing her dogs when overseas.
NFL @NFLAlways gotta check in on the dogs, even when you’re winning gold medals. 🏅🐶 @Simone_Biles @jjowens_3 #HardKnocks with the @ChicagoBears premieres tonight at 9pm ET on @streamonmax pic.twitter.com/OOWtl3WP7p
NFL Films @NFLFilmsHead over heels 🤸♀️🫶#HardKnocks | @Simone_Biles | @jjowens_3 pic.twitter.com/5BsDlKb6ta
Carolina Teague @CTtheMicSlayerJonathan Owens leaving camp to support Simone Biles during the #Olympics on #HardKnocks 🥹@HBO
Alexis Jade @MsalexisjadeIM SO HAPPY SIMONE BILES IS A BEAR #HardKnocks
The star power didn’t stop with Williams and Biles.
Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who coached Eberflus at Toledo, visited the team’s facility and talked with his former player about how to best prepare Williams to live up to the sky-high expectations. Considering Saban won seven national championships in college, there are far worse people to turn to when looking for advice on how to maximize young talent.
NFL Films @NFLFilmsHC Matt Eberflus gets sage advice from his former coach Nick Saban on what it takes to develop a rookie QB 📝#HardKnocks with the @ChicagoBears premieres tonight 9pm ET on @StreamOnMaxpic.twitter.com/LjE96swWSa
Eberflus also got some advice from his wife, Kelly, who told him to grow out his beard and get a haircut. It was quite the glow up for the head coach.
NFL Films @NFLFilmsNew Look Eberflus 💇♂️#HardKnocks | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/pmq2tWITp0
Chicago Bears @ChicagoBearsWe see the resemblance #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/984PxkqjxG
Zack Pearson @Zack_PearsonWe’ve unlocked Summer Flus early in this episode. Already playing up the new style for Matt Eberflus. #Bears
Ryan @RyanHeckmanNFLThis is what we all wanted to see.
Behind the scenes of the Matt Eberflus makeover. #HardKnocks
It wouldn’t be an episode of Hard Knocks without some of that off-the-field material, and Tuesday’s show also featured tight end Cole Kmet throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field, members of the team riding a boat through the city, a pool party at Eberflus’ house, a slip and slide at practice, and Jaylon Johnson’s tiny car.
NFL Films @NFLFilmsAll aboard 🛥️ #HardKnocks with the @ChicagoBears starts NOW pic.twitter.com/uFIYWB3DPe
NFL Films @NFLFilmsGo down the slip n slide in uniform or wear a cheesehead: pic.twitter.com/J5Jsw3p7xp
Chicago Bears Updates @chbearsupdatesJaylon Johnson appearance on #Bears Hard Knocks 👀 pic.twitter.com/yhQt6K59NP
Justo @Young_JustoJaylon Johnson’s car is sick
Yet the most memorable moment arguably belonged to rookie offensive lineman Theo Benedet, who is from Canada and chose to honor the United States by singing God Bless the U.S.A. in front of the team.
That wasn’t all, as he also ripped off his pants to reveal a speedo with a bald eagle.
Kyle Yates @KyleYNFLTheo Benedet 😂😂
🇺🇸🇺🇸
Patrick Finley @patrickfinleyTHEO BENEDET BALD EAGLE SPEEDO.
Harrison Graham @HGrahamNFLTheo Benedet is a LEGEND 😂😂😂
It wasn’t all good news for Benedet, who suffered an injury in the Hall of Fame Game against the Houston Texans that was included in the episode. Chicago came away with a 21-17 win in a game that was stopped early because of weather conditions.
Williams didn’t play, but Brett Rypien starred in the backup competition by going 11-of-15 for 166 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Collin Johnson also finished with two touchdown catches.
But if everything goes according to plan for the Bears this season, there will be bigger names than that making plays. The playoffs are the expectation with Williams guiding an offense that also features DJ Moore, Kmet, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift and Gerald Everett, and the team isn’t shying away from that reality.
Not if Hard Knocks was any indication.
