It’s been a tough initiation to the NFL for Caleb Williams, and fans aren’t holding back. The Chicago Bears rookie quarterback, who entered the league with sky-high expectations, faces heavy criticism after an eighth consecutive loss.
Monday night’s 30-12 loss at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings only enraged fans more as Williams struggled behind a collapsing offensive line and questionable coaching.
NFL Fans Are Berating Caleb Williams
Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, has been sacked 58 times this season — the third-most by a rookie since 1970. His issues continued Monday, as he was sacked twice and faced pressure all night long. It’s no wonder Williams was in pain on the bench after taking another big hit late in the game.
For context Caleb Williams took a hard hit to the ribs and then went to the bench and showed signs of pain.
Be better with how you word what you say @EmmanuelAcho https://t.co/GZ4TnErevL pic.twitter.com/B5N1gXjvmH
— CAPTAIN BEARS HYPE MAN 🐻⬇️ (@Bears_Hype_Man) December 17, 2024
“Say you get in three car accidents in a month, you’re going to feel it. That’s what a hit is in football. … Getting hit, especially when you can’t deliver a hit to somebody as in like running the ball, you take those over an amount of time and it builds up,” Williams explained postgame.
NFL fans, however, were less forgiving of the rookie’s struggles. One fan on social media slammed the former USC Trojans QB, saying, “Caleb Williams is exactly who I thought he would be. He wants to run on every gap and thinks his athleticism is gonna work in the NFL the same way it did in college. It’s not. The kid just ain’t gonna be a great QB.”
Caleb Williams is exactly who I thought he would be
He wants to run on every gap and thinks his athleticism is gonna work in the NFL the same way it did in college. It’s not
The kid just ain’t gonna be a great QB
— Dan Lifshatz (@DanLifshatz) December 17, 2024
“This is why I don’t want the Raiders to keep tanking, everyone assured me Caleb is a home run, now the same people are saying that with [Shedeur] Sanders. The talent rarely ever lives up to the hype,” wrote another.
“Some of this is self-inflicted,” one fan posted. “Dude needs to be held accountable.”
“Hard to believe this was the #1 overall pick,” said another.
The criticism wasn’t just about the sacks — Williams’ poor decision-making under pressure was also called out. His 0.1 air yards per attempt in the first half and two third-down sacks said a lot about his inability to execute when it mattered most.
Chicago’s offense was abysmal on third down, going 1/12. On those plays, Williams only completed two of his seven attempts for 34 yards, and he fumbled on another dropback. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner missed open targets, spun into trouble, and often hesitated to pull the trigger.
“Pass up three wide-open options to spin around and look like a loser,” a critic said, summarizing the frustration with Williams’ bad habits.
Pass up 3 wide open options to spin around and look like a loser
— Jeff (@jpohank) December 17, 2024
Even so, Williams remained level-headed despite the season’s struggles. “It’s been frustrating and encouraging,” he admitted. “The frustrating part is the losing streak … but the encouraging part is how much we fight as a team.”
The Bears, now 4-10, have secured their fourth consecutive double-digit-loss season, and Williams’ growing pains are at the center of their struggles. His rookie campaign is falling far short of expectations.
Whether it’s the relentless pressure, rookie mistakes, or overall dysfunction, fan patience is wearing thin, and questions are mounting about his ability to save Chicago.
