Caleb Williams’ rookie season with the Chicago Bears is shaping up to be a frustrating one. Those who expected the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner to hit the ground running in Year 1 are most disappointed.
The Bears dropped to 4-10 after another loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15. The young quarterback has been under constant fire as the Bears struggled with missed opportunities and an overall lack of execution in the 30-12 loss.
Emmanuel Acho Blasts Caleb Williams for Laid-Back Attitude
Williams’ body language on the sideline has drawn the ire of critics, including former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho. In the second half of the game, Williams took a massive hit while scrambling for a long third down. The play was nullified due to a holding penalty, and Williams laid on the ground after bracing the impact.
This doesn’t look good by Caleb Williams or for Caleb Williams… pic.twitter.com/YdImsXKXpZ
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) December 17, 2024
He was subbed off the field and helped to the bench, where cameras caught his reaction. Acho wasn’t impressed by Williams’ attitude. “Caleb, you not a damsel. You not in distress. We do not feel sorry for you,” the former Eagles LB said during an appearance on “The Facility.”
“Caleb Williams’ body language is starting to become not just concerning, but irritating.” Acho opined that Williams, once the king of college football, now needs to adjust to the hard reality of the NFL grind. “It’s like Caleb Williams expects us to feel sorry for him. Nobody’s coming to rescue you, Caleb Williams,” he added.
“Caleb Williams’ body language is starting to become not just concerning, but irritating.”
— @EmmanuelAcho pic.twitter.com/hsch0Ntyet
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) December 17, 2024
Williams, who has been sacked 58 times this season, acknowledged the tough start to his NFL career during a postgame interview. “It’s been frustrating and encouraging. The frustrating part is obviously we’re on a — how many games now, eight? — yeah, eight-game losing streak. Like I’ve said before, it’s new to me. I haven’t experienced anything like this. That’s the frustrating part. The encouraging part is how much we fight as a team.”
The losses are mounting every week, but Williams remains hopeful. “Coaches getting fired and all of this stuff going on, 4-10 right now. Being able to wake up, be consistent, do that every day with how it’s been going is encouraging for me. It’s encouraging for this team, and we’ve got to keep going,” he said. He views the team’s resilience as a silver lining during this lean period.
The young quarterback’s mental toughness is being tested weekly as the defenses apply constant pressure on Williams, forcing him to make bad decisions while pulling the trigger. There’s no doubt about his raw talent. The former USC Trojans quarterback was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after throwing for 10,082 yards and registering 93 passing touchdowns at the collegiate level.
Williams is trying hard to find consistency amid a tumultuous season, but the clock is ticking for the 23-year-old. Bears fans and NFL observers will continue watching closely if the rookie QB can shake off the criticism and rise to the challenge.
