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- It's all me.
Search this video
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(audience laughs) Shout out dairy.
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(audience laughs) (suspenseful music) - Watch the Rams vs 49ers on Netflix, September 10th.
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Hey, what's going on everybody?
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For First We Feast, I'm Sean Evans and you're watching "Hot Ones".
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It's the show with hot questions and even hotter wings.
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And today, we're joined by Caleb Williams. - Oh, yeah.
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- [Sean] He's a Heisman Trophy award-winner, the number one overall pick in the 2024 draft.
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This past season, he lead the Bears to their first division title in nearly a decade and was also unveiled as the cover athlete for "Madden 27", but how will the Ice Man handle a zero blitz from the world's hottest wings?
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I guess only time will tell.
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Caleb Williams- - Time, will tell, time will tell. - Welcome to the show. - Thank you. Thanks for having me.
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- You're someone who's known for being calm under pressure.
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What's going through your head as you prepare to take on the "Hot Ones" gauntlet? - Yeah.
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Right before we got into it, I took a couple deep breaths, you know, got a little air out.
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That's typically what I do right before my two minute drill.
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Take a couple deep breaths and lock in.
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(suspenseful music continues) (flames roaring) (flames roaring) (dramatic music) (electricity humming) I like this. - Take another bite. - All right.
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(gentle music) I think later on, I'ma slow down so get as much as I can. Let's dance.
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- So, as "Hot Ones" fans know, I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
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I've been a Bears fan my entire life. - [Caleb] Yep.
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- [Sean] Is there something about the city of Chicago that surprised you?
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Like, maybe something you didn't expect to love when you got drafted- - Yeah.
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- [Sean] But now can't imagine your life without? - For sure.
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I didn't think I was gonna like it that much, to be honest, and I fell in love with the city of Chicago, the people, the food, obviously the sports and things like that.
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I got a couple other friends in, you know, that are playing in Chicago sports, PCA, Modest, all these, you know, other guys.
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And then one of my other good friends, Cole, he's also born and bred from Chicago.
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And you know, the people I would say is the biggest thing.
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I didn't, you know, I didn't realize that the people were so hospitable.
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And then also Chicago's actually insanely clean. So it's surprising. Surprised me. That surprised me.
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- Yeah, I used to do the architecture tours of the Chicago River. - I haven't done it yet.
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- Well, when you do it- - Yep. - Call on me, all right? - Will do. - I'll give the tour. - Will do. I'll call on you.
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We'll get you back out to Chicago.
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(Sean and Caleb laugh) (gentle music continues) Yeah, that's pretty good.
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Far from what I am expecting the end to be like.
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I've actually done a couple hot things, like the One Chip Challenge I've done, I think twice now. - That's crazy.
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I've done that a couple times too. - Yeah, it's bad.
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And then I've done, we got in trouble as a team when I was a kid and we got into a big fight during the game.
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And we ended up having to do a hot, like a ghost pepper the next practice.
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(Sean laughs) And it's like 50 of us or whatever.
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And we end up doing a ghost pepper and all you see is just like people just run around the whole football field.
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Some people touch parts they shouldn't touch, eyes, all of these different things.
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- I've been there, I've been there.
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Any mistake you can make.
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- (laughs) And you can see people like putting the hose down their pants, all over their face, everything.
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So it was, I- - Cardio after a ghost pepper. - [Caleb] Oh.
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- Sounds like quite the experience.
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- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
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It was definitely quite the experience.
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- Well, it's a rather poetic segue because oftentimes on this show, we ask actors about their directors and I'd imagine that there's a lot of overlap between a quarterback and his coach.
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What does a great version of the quarterback coach relationship feel like?
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Like is it more like a mentorship, more like a marriage, or more like a jazz duo?
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- I'd say mentor and jazz duo.
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Because there's parts of it where he's, you know, at least, at least my coach in my situation, like he's super tough and he's on the mentor aspect of it.
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And he's, you know, he's coached me hard and I have respect for that and I love him for that because that's what I want.
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I want to, you know, reach things and each some of my goals.
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And you need somebody like that around you to show you what you don't know.
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And the jazz part is typically on Sundays, I think you get on the field and then it becomes poetic.
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It becomes a good old jazz night. - It becomes jazz, baby. - Yeah, it becomes jazz.
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And so I think a good combination between those two is, is I think where it stands the best.
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(upbeat music) Pickles, garlic, sriracha.
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What's the worst reaction you've had in here? - [Sean] Oof.
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(Caleb laughs) (Sean and Caleb laugh) - What's the worst reaction?
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- I mean- - And if there's one really bad, let's go one under. - Yeah.
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(laughs) I mean, we've seen some things over the years. - Yeah.
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- You know, if these walls could talk, but sometimes that just goes to the most unique things.
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Like Gordon Ramsey came in here with like a whole Mary Poppins bag of like spice antidotes.
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And at one point he pulled out a full milk fire extinguisher and then blasted at me from across the studio. - Yeah. - Yeah.
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- I got to go watch that.
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I'm going to get another bite with you. - [Sean] Let's do it. Partying. - Oh, this is good.
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I think recently I saw, I don't know if it was actually recent, but I saw clips of Becky G. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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- But she just- - Yeah, she was marching.
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- Marched right through this.
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- Yeah, she was marching.
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- [Sean] Just marched right through one foot after another. She was a beast. - She was a beast.
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Marches straight through it.
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- What's the most fun you've ever had on a football field?
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Like not necessarily the biggest game or most miraculous win, but just the most pure joy you've had playing the game for four quarters.
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- I've had a couple, honestly, really like cool games, like insane games in that aspect of just like enjoying.
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I got one in high school, championship game.
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- [Sean] You threw the Hail Mary down- - Threw the Hail Mary. - 43, 45. - Yeah, yeah.
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- Three scores in the final 33 seconds there. - [Caleb] Yes.
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Texas, my first time playing Texas.
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- [Sean] You down 35-17- - Down yeah. - To come in.
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- [Caleb] Yeah, something like that, yeah.
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- [Sean] 66 yard run on the first play. - Yeah, man.
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The Packers this past year for the DJ overtime, that was a special game.
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I actually, even though we lost, I really enjoyed this past Rams game, the playoff. - Also incredible. - It was electric.
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I mean, from the start to the finish, it was a electric environment.
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So shout out to Chicago, shout out to, you know, the fans and things like that. They made it like that.
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And then obviously the weather helped it a little bit.
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You know, you play "Madden" and you turn on the weather and, you know, you got snow going down.
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It felt like I was in the video game.
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So it was, it was pretty fun. It was sick. Black-Eyed Susan.
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Chickpea smoke hot sauce. Let's do it.
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This is probably my favorite so far.
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- [Sean] Let's keep track. - This is favorite.
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- So there's a school of thought in sports science. - Yep.
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- That clutch is mostly not real, that it's actually a kind of- - Clutch? - Survivorship. Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Like being clutch. - Like being clutch. - Okay.
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- That it's actually a kind of survivorship bias. - Yeah.
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- But we remember the great fourth quarter comebacks, but forget about the games that got away. - Yep.
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- As someone who set an NFL record with seven fourth quarter comebacks this last year, what's your response to the lab research?
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Like do you think the clutch gene is real or a myth? - I do, I do. I really do.
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Actually, I think some people have it, some people don't.
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I think you can also make it stronger or make it all, like it can also weaken. Like you can weaken.
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And so I think part of it's a mindset and I think some things you can't research.
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I think some things you can't put into a lab and say, you know, we're going to look at this or that.
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I think when it becomes that moment that, you know, we need to go score, I take that deep breath right before the moment and then it zones me in and it feels like everything's shut off.
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And I think part of it comes from the confidence and the hard work that I've put in to where when I take that deep breath, it goes back to that time where it's me, you know, out in Jacksonville, LA, working out, throwing to my guys in Chicago, working out.
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And it snaps me into that mode.
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And I think the full trust and faith and belief goes into my coaches, my teammates, and myself.
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- There's no academic measure for that dog in you.
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- Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Damn right.
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(Sean and Caleb laugh) (gentle music) Pickle scorpion. Five hot level. Wait.
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- So as a quarterback, you speak a language all your own out there.
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Most fans watching at home have no idea what these things mean.
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So what I've done is I've pulled some obscure terminology that came up over the course of the interview. - Okay.
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- And I'm just hoping you can help me define some of these terms. - All right, see.
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- What's a sight adjustment?
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- A sight adjustment, I do know that one.
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Sight adjustment is defense is showing you something.
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And a lot of times you'll see QBs like pointing out somebody and it's like if this guy blitzes, we're sight adjusting changing a route.
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If he doesn't blitz, you're running your normal route.
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And so it happens on a snap and a ball.
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Teams don't really do it as much anymore, but it's still around very, very so often.
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- What does MOFO mean or MOFC?
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- Middle foot open, middle foot close.
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(Sean laughs) So it's based off coverage and, you know, if it's a defender in between the hashes or if it's defenders off the hashes.
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- [Sean] What's a scat protection? - Scat protection.
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Five man protection, free release of the back.
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- How would you describe a Texas route?
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- How do I describe a Texas route?
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You run at a angle, like you're running to the sideline.
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And it depends on landmarks.
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Teams change landmarks, but you know, you're running to the sideline from the backfield running back typically.
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Running to the sideline and then you're breaking back across the face of the defender that's following you outside.
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It's called a Texas route.
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45 degree angle back inside.
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- What's a stick nod or a stick nod? - Stick nod. Yeah, stick nod.
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It's basically a double move off the base play of stick.
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And typically the routes on the outsides are still the same, but typically the tight end or third receiver is running the stick nod.
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So he's running a stick route of about five yards.
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He's going out for about a couple steps, two steps, three steps, and then he's nodding back up the hash typically. - Stick nod. - Stick nod. Pineapple flavored.
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Typically not my favorite. Solid though. Solid.
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- What are the furthest lengths you've gone to in the lab in order to get better at a particular skill?
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Like what would you say is like the deepest rabbit hole you've gone down to get better?
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- When I was a kid, and I can remember this very vividly, when I was a kid, I wanted to basically create the perfect throw motion.
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I wanted to, you know, and if not perfectly be, you know, right there at the closest.
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And so you know the movie "Karate Kid"? - [Sean] Yeah.
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- [Caleb] Pick it up, put it down, take it off. - Wax on, wax off. - Wax on, wax off.
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And so there was a point when I first started playing QB that I didn't throw the football because I wanted, I did everything, you know, okay, reset, reset, reset. Now go up, up, up, up.
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And so it became a thing and it's like a book that I'm reading right now called "Chop Wood and Carry Water".
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And it's that same thing.
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He wanted to be an archer and they didn't let him, they didn't let him like, you know, string the bow and all these different things.
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He had to chop wood and carry water before he could ever get to that point.
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So it was the same thing.
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(dramatic music) (suspenseful music) This is 8 Dragons. Sounds fiery. This was like sweet. - At first. - Yeah, got you. I can feel it coming.
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- Nothing you can't handle.
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- We're tough, right, Sean?
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- [Sean] That's right, Chicago strong. Bear Nation, claw up. - Bear Nation, claw up. All of it. All of the above. - [Sean] So draft night.
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You described your Chrome Hearts suit as classy but unique, one of one.
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When you're getting dressed for at that time, you know, the most important night of your life, what is the goal?
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Like is it to make a statement or just look and feel good? - Sure.
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- That's what I'm talking about. - Sure.
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(Caleb and Sean laugh) Sure.
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I felt like the night was my night. Yeah. No, the idea of it.
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Shout out to Stark family.
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I love them, appreciate them for all they've those moments and all the other clothes that I've been able to buy from them and, you know, gifts that I've got from them.
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I definitely wanted to stand out, be different.
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And with the blue, I wanted to add a just small hints of silver, black boots, but Margiello with the, you know, the toe split, so a little different. - [Sean] Pocket.
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- And then under, I went Chrome Heart shirt with the orange shout out Chicago and Chicago Bears.
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I had a orange Chicago up under the Chrome Heart symbol.
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So it was a, a full kind of Chrome Heart and Chicago, Chicago Bear collab kind of thing.
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And wanted to be the swaggiest guy. - [Sean] Check.
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- Wanted to make a statement. - [Sean] Check.
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- Wanted to do it with a historic brand. - Check. - Check. With great people. Check. Da Bomb, da Bears. (laughs) Mm. Okay.
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(dramatic music) Oh, this is going to get hot.
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It has no taste in the beginning.
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That's the hot one, isn't it? - [Sean] That's, yeah. Yep.
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- Yeah, that's the hot one.
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(Caleb laughs) (dramatic music continues) - [Sean] Bringing back memories of the chip. - Yeah, yeah. No, for sure. Woo. I like it though.
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- It's ghost pepper practice all over again. - It's hot. Yeah. - You like it. - Yeah, I mean...
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(audience laughs) (Caleb laughs) Yeah, it's hot. What's in that one?
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- I think it's just like- - Does it pump you up- - Just straight gasoline. - Every time.
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- [Sean] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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I never get used to this. - Okay.
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- I've been doing this for a long time. Never get used to this.
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I actually can feel that I might start hiccuping here in a second. - Okay.
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- So just bear with me over here. - I might tap into this. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Yeah. - That's good idea.
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- As long as we're on the same page. Communication matters. - Mm-hmm. We're dancing. We're dancing again.
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- Oh, we'll take a second. - Yeah.
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- Before we get to the other. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Yeah. - And don't worry.
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I got a nice long wind up here, all right?
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(audience laughs) So while you battled Da Bomb, (screen whooshes) (Caleb gasps) I want to play a game where I give you yearbook superlatives and you pick the player on the Bears roster- - Let's do it.
15:01
- That best matches that description.
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Who would you say is most likely to become a head coach in 20 years? - One sec. - Yeah, yeah. - Yeah, that's hot. Coach.
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(Caleb exhaling) (brooding music) (Caleb gasps) It's like I'm breathing Da Bomb.
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(Sean laughs) (suspenseful music) Let's go like Cole Kmet, Grady Jarrett.
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Yeah, those two probably.
15:31
- Who's the smartest football mind in the locker room?
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- I probably got to go Joe Thuney. 14-year vet. No, no, no, Case Keenum.
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Let's go Case Keenum for the 20 year.
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He's already coaching his kids.
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- [Sean] Yeah, he's got a head start.
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- He's got a head start, everybody.
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- Which vet taught you the most when you first came to Chicago? - Case Keenum. - Case Keenum.
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It's a big Case Keenum wing.
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Big look for Case Keenum. - Yeah. Shout out Case, man. What a guy.
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Case Keenum, Keenan Allen too.
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- [Sean] Who, pound for pound- - I mean.
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- Has best celebrations when they make a play? - Milk is unbelievable.
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- [Sean] This would taste great at this time.
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- [Caleb] Probably Jahdae Walker or Luther Burden. They're unbeatable.
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- [Sean] The teammate who never shuts up, even in the huddle. - Jahdae Walker.
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(group laughs) Jahdae Walker.
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You hear Jahdae Walker when you wake up.
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(Sean laughs) - [Sean] You hear him when you go to bed.
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- You hear him when you go to sleep.
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- I think I hear his voice right now.
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- I mean, you hear him in the locker room as soon as you get to the locker room.
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(audience member laughs) - How you feeling?
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Would you like some ice cream?
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We can get you some ice cream. - Nah.
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- That I'm talking about.
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(audience member laughs) (suspenseful music) - Triple X. Salsa Vibes.
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(suspenseful music) I mean... (tense music) Yeah. - Yeah. - We got more milk?
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- [Sean] Yeah, yeah, we got more milk coming in.
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We've been keeping an eye. - All right. (Sean laughs) What's up? Give me elbow. (audience laughs) Hey.
17:13
- So in a recent "SportsCenter"- - Yeah.
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- In a recent "SportsCenter" interview- - Yep.
17:16
- You said that video games are your passion just behind football.
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Besides "Madden", which game do you think pulls out your most competitive side? - Oh, man. Probably "ARC Raiders".
17:29
It's this like this extraction game, survival extraction game with other players on the map.
17:36
I'm not one to like, they call it raging and get off, but when things go bad with that game, I get off.
17:43
(Sean laughs) I think you're making this hotter for me when you do that.
17:46
(Sean laughs) - Look at my face.
17:48
I have to work on my listening face. - Yeah.
17:51
- I really think that is something I have to work on.
17:52
- You got to be more stoic.
17:52
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
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When I'm dying, I think I have to work up. That's a good note. - Yeah. - That's a good note.
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- Always communication, like I said.
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- I know that's what I'm picking up on today. - Yeah.
18:01
- All right, Caleb Williams.
18:03
(suspenseful music) - Oh, man. What's on this last one?
18:11
I don't want to be controlled by the sauce.
18:13
I want to control the sauce. I'm just gonna...
18:17
- [Sean] Just pop the top on it. - I'm gonna pop the top. - Yep. - All right. It's all me. Shout out, dairy.
18:24
(audience laughing) All right, come on, man. - [Sean] All right. - How much you dab?
18:33
- I just do a little boom. - [Caleb] A little. You're insane.
18:38
(gentle music) You're insane. So am I.
18:42
(Sean laughing) - [Sean] That's what I'm talking about. - Let's go. - Let's go.
18:50
- Mm, that tastes like the chip.
18:54
- It all comes back, but let's focus on the good.
18:59
The Wings Of Death are behind us.
19:01
(fist thudding) You've taken on the gauntlet, you've taken some punches, but you've ended up on top.
19:08
And to close things out, you're a genuine student of the position, a quarterback, historian.
19:15
So what I want to do is give you the floor to teach the class.
19:17
I'm going to bounce the names of some legends who came before you. - Yeah.
19:21
- And then I just want you to tell- - Are you talking about "Hot One" legends or like? - Quarterback legends. - Okay, okay, okay.
19:26
- I'm going to throw some at you, and then you tell me what a quarterback can learn watching the tape, okay? - Okay. - Randall Cunningham. - Cannon.
19:35
He could do the thing that I did versus Rams, 20 extra yards.
19:39
(Sean laughs) He could hose the ball anywhere, anywhere, put it on the field at any point, whenever he wanted. - Tom Brady. - Killer. Two-minute killer.
19:51
End the game moment killer. Let's go moment killer. - Aaron Rogers.
19:54
- Magician with the football.
19:57
Magician with the football. - And Caleb Williams.
20:00
(Caleb inhales) - All of the above.
20:06
(Sean and Caleb laughing) - Let 'em know, let 'em know.
20:09
And look at you, Caleb Williams, taking on the Wings Of Death, living to tell the tale, and now there's nothing left to do but blow out the red carpet for you. - Oh yeah.
20:17
- This camera, this camera, or this camera.
20:18
Let the people know what you have going on in your life.
20:20
- What I have going on in my life, "Madden 2027" cover coming out in September right now.
20:30
It's it's a blessing, it's an honor, a childhood dream to be on it.
20:33
And so shout out EA, shout out "Madden", shout out Sean and everybody here with "Hot Ones".
20:38
Much love, much appreciated, and I need a few more cartons to go.
20:43
(Sean laughs) (hands clapping) (audience cheering) Oh, yeah, thank you, thank you. (gentle music) Woo.
20:54
- Really nice to meet you. - Same here.
20:56
- Such a fan and you know what you do.
20:58
- We got a present for you. - [Sean] Oh, you do?
21:01
- [Woman] Oh, hands are dirty. Here you go. - That's all right. Actually, dirty hand.
21:04
I want the a hot sauce hand passover. - There you are. - Oh.
21:10
Iceman, "Hot Ones", Bears.
21:10
(laughs) - [Caleb] Oh, yeah. Woo.
21:18
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21:23
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21:28
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21:41
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21:43
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