The Chicago Bears had high hopes for a turnaround when they drafted quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. But instead of surging into contention, the team has stumbled to a 4-10 record amid an eight-game losing streak. Now the rookie QB is openly sharing his frustrations with the mounting losses and his own inconsistent play.
“Losing is one of those things that really affects me,” Williams admitted. “It’s tough. But I do have the understanding of where I’m at in my career and where I’ll be at. Having that understanding is important for me, myself internally, because internally it’s tough.”
A New Challenge for Williams
Williams enjoyed tremendous success in college, experiencing just 10 total losses across three seasons at Oklahoma and USC. Chicago’s 10 defeats in his first NFL campaign already match that number. Learning to process and persevere through the struggles has been a new test for the young passer.
Amid the adversity, Williams is leaning on positive self-talk and affirmations. “You motivate yourself, you encourage yourself. You have positive affirmations, is the word, that you say to yourself,” he explained. “I tell myself certain things: ‘I am great. I will be great.’ All these different things. So, I think that’s one of the biggest things, is not pulling yourself down and being gracious with yourself.”
Frustrations With Inaccuracy
Beyond the losing, Williams is battling dissatisfaction with his own performance, particularly his inconsistent accuracy. The rookie’s off-target throw rate of 21.4% ranks 32nd out of 34 qualified quarterbacks. Only Anthony Richardson (25.5%) and Bryce Young (22.8%) have been less precise.
“It’s frustrating. I hate missing passes, especially ones that I’ve been pretty consistent on for a good amount of time.”
– Caleb Williams on his accuracy woes
Williams believes he’s making strides with his reads and mechanics, but the lack of results remains a point of aggravation. “The progress has been on a steady trend upwards, but I would say it is pretty frustrating on missing some of these passes that I’ve missed,” he admitted.
Punishment in the Pocket
Compounding matters, Williams has been under constant duress, absorbing a league-high 58 sacks so far. In a recent loss to the Patriots, cameras captured the battered quarterback wincing in pain on the sideline after taking several brutal hits.
But when asked if the physical toll is impacting him mentally, Williams dismissed the notion. Interim head coach Thomas Brown agrees that the rookie’s resolve remains intact. “Not with him, I don’t,” Brown said regarding any concern over the cumulative effects of the pounding.
Eyes on Improvement
Despite the discouraging results, Williams is channeling his energy into preparing for the future. The young quarterback is keeping a running list of aspects to refine in the coming offseason.
“I got a good amount of stuff that I’m planning on going over, whether it’s footwork, whether it’s pre-snap and recognizing what they’re in…how fast can I get to this, how fast can I get to that route.”
– Caleb Williams on his offseason improvement plans
With fellow rookie passers like Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix guiding their teams toward the postseason, it’s natural for Williams to feel the sting of the Bears’ regression. But Chicago understood that entrusting the franchise to a first-year quarterback would likely mean weathering tough stretches.
The Bears’ brain trust is banking on Williams’ talent, work ethic and competitive drive ultimately overcoming the bumps of this rebuilding phase. His determination to address weaknesses and willingness to shoulder blame for the team’s failures suggest a leadership mentality that could aid that mission.
Still, after an encouraging start dissolved into an eight-game tailspin, the once-bright outlook for this marriage of a prized prospect and a marquee franchise is undeniably dimmer. Significant strides from both Williams and Chicago’s supporting cast are essential to restore optimism and reverse the skid in 2025.
For his part, Williams is committed to the cause, however trying the current circumstances may be. “This is going to sound crazy, but you talk to yourself, to be honest,” he said of his methods for perseverance. If the self-motivation propels him to the heights forecasted when the Bears called his name at No. 1 overall, that faith will have been well placed.
