New Chicago Bears wideout Olamide Zaccheaus sees the parallels between his former club and his new one.
In 2024, Zaccheaus joined a Washington Commanders club led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, a new coaching staff, new offensive line pieces and an offensive scheme with upside. In 2025, the 27-year-old wideout joins a similarly rebuilt club, sporting 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, new head coach Ben Johnson and a remade offensive line.
Following a roller-coaster season, the key will be Williams becoming as efficient and dynamic as Daniels is in Washington.
"The biggest thing, I think, is just the mental aspect of it for any young quarterback, especially Caleb," Zaccheaus said Monday, via the team's official transcript. "He has all the talent that you need to be a top-tier quarterback in the league. A lot of it's just going to be the mental aspect of it and kind of just slowing the game down."
Zaccheaus noted that he knew Daniels had the goods after an impressive throw during OTAs but that the rookie proved his mettle and growth throughout the season.
The veteran wideout spent four seasons in Atlanta before bouncing from Philadelphia to Washington the past two seasons. Entering Year 7, Zaccheaus knows a quick start to the season will be key in Chicago.
"The biggest thing is just the connection," he said. "That was one thing that [we] prided ourselves on doing is just being able to connect as quickly as possible. That's how you really take off. The connection throughout the building, not just from player to player, player to coach, coach to players -- but media team to player, player to chef, training room, everybody in the building has to connect as fast as possible. Then we'll see what that takes us, but that puts you in the best position to be able to have success."
Zaccheaus is an intriguing add to the Bears' receiver room. He won't garner many headlines but fits well alongside D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. The veteran should slide into the slot role but can play inside or outside as a movable chess piece for Johnson. He should take on some of those gadget plays that became a staple of the Detroit offense in recent seasons.
The wideout noted that the allure of playing under Johnson played a role in his new landing spot.
"I think just from afar, you see what his offenses have done in the past, the creativity, the play calls, how great the offenses have been and how productive they've been," he said. "I think that's what excites me. Then you also watch the film and the tape and how hard they play for each other. That's something that's up my alley. I'm excited to get to work and build on that."