The Chicago Bears are grappling with turmoil midway through the NFL season, reeling from a lackluster offense and now facing coaching upheaval after dismissing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday.
As the team stumbles to find any rhythm, Waldron’s departure has added more uncertainty to an already struggling offense.
But Waldron’s exit wasn’t the only shockwave from Halas Hall. Reports emerged that some Bears veterans have urged the coaching staff to consider benching rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in favor of backup Tyson Bagent.
ESPN Radio’s Marc Silverman broke the news on X, sharing that, “After talking to a few people with knowledge of the situation, players went to Matt Eberflus & Ryan Poles asking them to make a change at offensive coordinator. There have also been a few veteran players requesting Bagent starts.”
Several Bears beat reporters have since backed Silverman’s report, intensifying speculation around the team’s internal discord and prompting questions about the future direction of their offense.
The suggestion to replace Williams, especially after Chicago dealt Justin Fields and invested a No. 1 pick to draft the promising USC standout, adds further complexity to the Bears’ ongoing struggles.
One notable football figure who thinks it would serve all parties best to bench Williams is Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner.
“I think we see so often in this league, slated to be the starter, we throw them in, and they don’t have the tools. They don’t have the information, the skill set that they need to succeed at the NFL level,” Warner said on The Dan Patrick Show.
“So, a lot of these guys are simply what I call surviving. It’s like, here, take the ball and run out there and try to do whatever you can to be successful without us giving you the tools that you need to be able to do it.
“I think it could be beneficial to let Caleb step back and to let him kind of see how it’s done, get acclimated with what the speed is and what the complexity is and what we’re asking him to do within these pro offenses.
“Then when he’s reinserted, he is in a position to fully succeed, which is both beneficial for him and obviously beneficial for the organization as well.”
Williams has struggled in his debut season behind a weak offensive line. He’s thrown for 1,785 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions in nine games played.
Notably, the rookie’s 60.5% completion rate has been alarming as he frequently misses routine throws. He’s also taken a league-high 38 sacks.
With a wealth of playmakers in his receiving corps, Williams was expected to elevate Chicago’s offense, but without more consistent protection, the Bears risk squandering a crucial developmental season for their potential franchise quarterback.
As the organization evaluates its next steps, the pressure is mounting to find a solution that supports Williams’ growth and stabilizes the team’s offensive identity.
While it’s true that fellow rookie quarterbacks Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix have all out-played Williams, the fact of the matter is every young quarterback goes through growing pains.
After a phenomenal rookie season, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is going through a bit of a sophomore slump this season.
In other words, it goes without saying that it’s way too early to label Williams a bust.
Having said that, Bears fans had hoped that he would be much more impactful than he’s been to this point. You also have to feel for the veterans who feel they aren’t being given much of a chance to win with Williams under center.
What are your thoughts on the report that some Bears players want Williams benched?
Looking ahead, do you think there’s a chance that Williams ends up being a complete bust???