Former USC Trojans' Star Mark Sanchez to Call Caleb Williams' First NFL Start

Former Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez will be in the booth as a TV commentator for fellow USC Trojans alum Caleb Williams' NFL regular season debut on Sunday.

Randall Sweet | Sep 5, 2024

December 6, 2008; Pasadena, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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On Sunday, former USC Trojans quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is set to make his NFL regular season debut with the Chicago Bears.

Williams' won't be the only former USC star in Chicago, however, as fellow Trojans' quarterback Mark Sanchez will be one of the game's TV commentators along with Adam Amin. Kristina Pink will serve as the sideline reporter for the game's broadcast crew.

The Bears are set to take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, giving Williams and company a solid chance to earn their first win of the season with Sanchez on the call.

Aug 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) warms up prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images / Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Williams' career in Chicago begins after the standout quarterback spent two seasons in Los Angeles playing for USC coach Lincoln Riley. Following his remarkable career at USC, the Washington D.C. product was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

"I think (playing in Los Angeles) is a great experience," Sanchez said in March. "That's what its like in the NFL. ... At least New York has two teams to beat up on. Chicago's got one, and they beat up on them just as hard. Ask Mitch Trubisky, ask Mike Glennon. I was in a quarterback room with them. ... He's felt some of that in Los Angeles, now moving to this other market ... It's just as big as anything else."

East Rutherford, NJ December 31, 2023 -- Former NY Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez on the field during pre game warm ups. The New York Giants host the Los Angeles Rams on December 31, 2023 at at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. / Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

In his two years at USC, Williams completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 8,170 yards and 72 touchdowns to go along with 524 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. The former 5-star recruit earned Pac-12 Offensive Play of the Year and All-American honors in 2022 en route to a Heisman Trophy.

Williams became the eighth Trojans player to win the prestigious award, joining Mike Garrett, OJ Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

Bush won the award in 2005 before the NCAA stripped him of the honor due to infractions that were uncovered later. The NCAA officially reinstated Bush's Heisman Trophy in April 2024.

Sanchez also had a successful career at USC, completing 64.3 percent of his passes for 3,965 yards and 45 total touchdowns in three years. The talented quarterback was selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and helped lead the New York Jets to consecutive AFC Championship game appearances.

After a tumultuous stretch for the Bears, Williams' first start on Sunday will kick off a new era for Chicago's football team. The star quarterback will be flanked by fellow rookie and top 10 pick Rome Odunze, six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, who racked up over 1,300 receiving yards in 2023.

With a solid receiving corp and an exciting young signal caller, Sanchez will be the color analyst for what could be an exciting matchup between two young quarterbacks.

The Bears and Titans will kick off from Soldier Field at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 8 in Week 1 of the NFL Regular season.

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Published Sep 5, 2024

RANDALL SWEET

Randall Sweet is a Staff Writer for Sports Illustrated covering the Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, USC Trojans, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. Since graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in journalism, Randall has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports across the country as a credentialed media member. While in college, Randall wrote for the OU Daily and logged bylines in The Norman Transcript in addition to working with Sooner Sports Pad and OU Nightly. Following his time at OU, Randall served as the Communications Coordinator at Visit Oklahoma City before leaving to join the team at Sports Illustrated.