Quarterback Caleb Williams was expected to compete for Offensive Rookie of the Year Award honors after the Chicago Bears made him the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, Williams has endured the in-season firings of both offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus amid a losing streak that extended to eight games via Monday’s 30-12 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings.
Following Chicago’s latest loss, Williams spoke openly about a debut pro campaign that has been filled with more downs than ups since the Bears entered their Week 7 bye at 4-2.
“It’s been frustrating and encouraging,” Williams said, as shared by Courtney Cronin of ESPN. “I would say the frustrating part is obviously we’re on a — how many games now, eight? — yeah, eight-game losing streak. Like I’ve said before, it’s new to me. I haven’t experienced anything like this. That’s the frustrating part. The encouraging part is how much we fight as a team.”
Per Blake Silverman of Sports Illustrated, Hall of Famer Troy Aikman said while calling Monday’s contest that Williams looked like “a defeated guy” on the sidelines during the game’s fourth quarter. To his credit, the 23-year-old sounded at least somewhat optimistic after the loss.
“The encouraging part is us as a team…being able to go through all of what’s happened this year,” Williams added. “Me not playing well at the beginning of the season and feeling like I was seeing it well and then being able to find ways to keep growing, keep progressing through those times that I was frustrated. Coaches getting fired
and all
of this stuff going on, 4-10 right now. Being able to wake up, be consistent, do that every day with how it’s been going is encouraging for me. It’s encouraging for this team and we’ve got to keep going.”
Per ESPN stats, Williams has taken a league-high 58 sacks on the season. He ended Week 15 ranked 26th in the NFL with a 48.1 adjusted QBR, and he’s tossed 17 touchdown passes with five interceptions over 14 games.
Insiders expect the Bears will target an offensive guru such as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to serve as Williams’ next head coach. Williams and the 4-10 Bears host the 12-2 Lions this coming Sunday.
Considering Detroit’s injury woes, Williams may have an opportunity to produce impressive numbers at Soldier Field ahead of Christmas.
