It was a big night for Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, who held off the Washington Commanders in a tense 27-24 victory to extend their winning streak to three games.
But while Chicago fans celebrated their team’s grit, many couldn’t help but turn their attention to something off the field, the broadcast booth.
During ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage, fans grew increasingly frustrated with what they perceived as a dismissive tone from Troy Aikman toward the Bears, particularly Williams.
Social media erupted with claims that the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current ESPN analyst was openly rooting against Chicago throughout the game.
The criticism began midway through the broadcast when Aikman described one Bears touchdown as “just luck.” That remark set off a firestorm online, with fans accusing him of minimizing Chicago’s progress under new head coach Ben Johnson.
“Aikman after Swift scores: ‘Just um, just luck on Chicago’s part,'” one fan posted on X. Another wrote, “Troy Aikman is such a Bear hater. That was luck? My a**. BEAR DOWN.”
Some even joked that Aikman‘s commentary made it sound like he was disgusted by Williams’ every throw. “Troy Aikman: and quite honestly Joe, it makes me sick to even look at this guy,” one fan quipped sarcastically.
Fans call out Troy Aikman’s commentary
The reaction wasn’t just about one comment. Viewers noticed Aikman’s subdued tone during the Bears’ best moments and his visible enthusiasm when the Commanders appeared to swing momentum.
“What I love about this so much is that Troy Aikman was eulogizing the Bears as if the game was lost,” one viral post read. “He’s a loser and was trying to pass off that energy to the Bears. Screw him!”
Others added that while Aikman was quick to highlight Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, he rarely praised Williams‘ decision-making or pocket presence.
“Bears score. Troy Aikman: That was pretty much just luck. Also, Jayden Daniels is still smiling and curing cancer on the sideline,” another tweet joked.
Still, not all of Aikman‘s comments were negative. He notably defended Chicago during a controversial illegal formation call, saying it was “a bad flag” by the officials, something even his critics acknowledged.
“Nicest thing that Troy Aikman said all night about the Bears was that he thought the Theo Benedet penalty was BS,” one fan admitted.
For Aikman, who has built a reputation as one of the most blunt voices in football broadcasting, this isn’t the first time his objectivity has come under fire. His sharp tone and dry delivery have occasionally been mistaken for personal bias, though supporters argue it’s simply part of his analytical style.
Adding intrigue to the backlash is Aikman’s long history with some of the league’s biggest quarterbacks, including Lamar Jackson, with whom he was recently involved in a year-long trademark dispute over the rights to the word “EIGHT.”
While that legal battle has since been resolved, it reinforced Aikman’s image as someone unafraid to stand his ground, even off the field.
Whether or not Aikman truly harbors disdain for Williams or the Bears is impossible to prove. But judging by the outrage on social media, fans have already made up their minds.
For them, Monday Night Football wasn’t just about Chicago’s resilience, it was about what they heard, and what they think it revealed about one of the sport’s most recognizable voices.
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