Joe Sean isn't the main event on the Bears' edition of HBO's “Hard Knocks,” but his comments about the quarterback position took center stage in Tuesday's season finale.
Ahead of Georgia's home opener against Clemson on Saturday, the Giants' general manager met with Bears GM Ryan Pauls, about four months after selecting former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft.
“It's nice not to have to see the, um…” the Giants' third-year GM said, followed by Pauls saying, “The quarterback?”
“Hopefully it can continue like this for a long time,” added Pauls, who had been mentioned as a candidate to become the Giants' general manager in 2022.
Williams, a Heisman Trophy winner, arrived in Chicago with great expectations and fanfare as the Bears look to make the postseason for the first time since 2018.
Chicago brass traded current starter Justin Fields to the Steelers in March, a month before the Williams era officially began.
The 22-year-old Williams performed well in the preseason and was subsequently named team captain, a rare honor for a rookie.
A few miles away in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sean and the Giants are in the midst of a big year with Jones, who the Giants signed to a four-year, $160 million contract last offseason following their impressive run through the 2022 playoffs.
In 2023, things just didn't go right for the Giants as they opened the season with a blowout loss at home to the Cowboys.
Jones, the team's first-round draft pick in 2019, suffered a torn ACL in November and was sidelined for the year.
The Giants chose Jones despite interest in top quarterback prospect Drake Maye, the Patriots' No. 3 overall pick, and added a bright new face to their offense in energetic rookie wide receiver Malik Neighbors, who was drafted No. 6 overall.
“We have high expectations,” Jones said, “high expectations of what we can do as a team offensively. With the work we've put in and the progress we've made, I expect us to be a good team, score a lot of goals and attack defenses in a variety of ways.”
The Giants open their season at home against the Vikings on Sunday, while Williams will make his NFL regular-season debut against the Titans at Soldier Field.
