Caleb Williams might be one of the most talented quarterbacks to come out of college in recent years, but some inside the Chicago Bears organization are already raising red flags.
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has impressed many with his physical gifts, but behind closed doors, the coaching staff is reportedly unsure if their new quarterback has what it takes to command a locker room and represent the franchise with maturity.
Despite publicly dismissing rumors that he didn’t want to play for the Bears, Williams is now the focus of internal conversations about his attitude and readiness to shoulder the pressure that comes with being the face of a rebuilding NFL team.
According to a recent report from Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, several members of the Bears’ coaching staff have been focusing less on technical skills and more on how Williams carries himself around the team.
“I kind of like asked around what they’ve been working on with Caleb and the stuff that they’ve been working on was really how you carry yourself as a franchise quarterback, and the command that you have to have to be a franchise quarterback,” Breer said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
Coaches want more urgency and resilience from Williams
Breer revealed that while there’s no question about Williams‘ football IQ or arm talent, the Bears want him to better understand the intangibles that define long-term quarterback success-especially in adversity.
With a disappointing final college season under his belt, during which USC fell short of expectations and made major coaching changes, there’s concern about how Williams reacts when the situation turns sour.
“Basically, the point they were trying to make to him was, ‘Last year was a tough year, we understand. Your offensive coordinator gets fired, then your head coach gets fired. Your offensive line wasn’t very good, we get it,'” Breer explained.
“But if you’re lying on the ground for an extended period of time and you’re not picking yourself up off the ground, that’s going to resonate with the rest of the team.”
This sentiment aligns with past critiques that Williams doesn’t always display the visible grit teams expect from leaders.
In previous interviews, the quarterback has stated that being Deion Sanders‘ son, and the media scrutiny that came with it, prepared him to handle pressure, but NFL insiders believe he still has to prove it within the professional ranks.
This also isn’t the first time Williams‘ off-field posture has raised eyebrows. Rumors persisted throughout the pre-draft process that his camp tried to steer him toward a more favorable landing spot-specifically, the Minnesota Vikings-though Williams later denied those claims.
Ultimately, Williams‘ legacy in Chicago won’t be defined by speculation but by how he responds.
If he embraces the coaching and evolves into the leader the Bears are hoping for, these early concerns could fade quickly. But if not, the scrutiny will only grow louder as the pressure of being the No. 1 pick sets in.
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