The Chicago Bears’ struggles continued Monday night with a 30-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, marking their eighth consecutive defeat.
Now sitting at 4-10, the Bears are officially out of playoff contention for the fourth time in five seasons.
Despite the addition of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, the anticipated turnaround hasn’t materialized in Chicago.
The rookie quarterback, who came into the NFL with sky-high expectations, has had flashes of brilliance, breaking several team rookie records.
However, his efforts haven’t translated into wins, and his performance has been under increasing scrutiny. Some are even wondering if he’ll end up being a bust.
The criticism reached a boiling point after Monday’s game when Williams was visibly frustrated after taking a hit in the fourth quarter.
Lying on the bench in dramatic fashion, his demeanor drew sharp criticism from former NFL player Emmanuel Acho.
“Caleb, you not a damsel, you not in distress,” Acho said on FS1’s The Facility. “We do not feel sorry for you. It is the National Football League. You’re going to get hit hard. You have to get up. You have to play the next play.”
Acho, who played two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, went on to criticize Williams’ demeanor.
“Caleb Williams’ body language is starting to become not just concerning but irritating,” he said.
“The game of football, particularly when you’re a rookie, you go from being a king in college to being a peasant, and I believe somebody needs to inform Caleb Williams that you are now the peasant of the National Football League.”
Williams, a Heisman Trophy winner from USC, completed 18 of 31 passes for 191 yards and a late touchdown in the loss. However, the defeat extended his losing streak to eight games, the third-longest such streak among No. 1 overall picks in NFL history.
Williams’ on-field struggles aren’t his only source of criticism.
Former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell took a jab at Williams on social media this week, mocking the quarterback for a viral moment from March when he attended a USC women’s basketball game.
In the photo, Williams is seen with his fingernails painted pink while holding a pink phone case. Some people wondered if he was also wearing lip gloss.
“This is who y’all was expecting to be good,” Bell posted on X.
Williams has faced public scrutiny before for his unique personal style, which includes painting his nails.
“I think the nails thing kind of took everybody by surprise,” Williams told PEOPLE earlier this year. “I’ve been doing it before college, but it took everybody by surprise, just because you don’t always see male athletes who play football paint their nails. But I think it’s just another way of expression.”
Chicago’s struggles aren’t solely on Williams’ shoulders.
The Bears have faced significant turmoil this season, firing head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in the past two months. Interim coach Thomas Brown, originally the team’s passing game coordinator, has stepped in during a tumultuous period.
Chicago’s next challenge is a daunting one: a matchup against the NFC-leading Detroit Lions on Sunday. The last meeting between the two teams resulted in the firing of Eberflus, following a butchering of the play clock.
Williams will need a standout performance to quiet critics and give the Bears a chance at pulling off a massive upset. Considering how banged up Detroit’s defense is, Bears fans are hoping to see some progress at the very least.
What are your thoughts on Williams’ rookie season?
Should Bears fans be worried that he will end up being a bust???
