Caleb Williams entered the NFL with high expectations and was hailed by many as the Chicago Bears’ savior. The NFC North franchise put good pieces around the rookie quarterback, but things still did not work out.
Chicago has lost seven straight games and is 4-9 on the season. Williams recently spoke about the team’s struggles and expressed disappointment as he has never been in a situation where his team has lost this much.
Caleb Williams Gets Candid on the Bears’ Struggles
Williams went 23-10 in three years of college football as a starter at Oklahoma and USC. With how the Bears have played, their starting quarterback will have more losses in his rookie season than during his college career.
“I’ve never had a streak like this of losing,” Williams said, per NBC’s Pro Football Talk. “This is my first time of being a part of something like this, of losing, and this streak. … There’s belief, hope, and faith that we’re going to get this right. However that may happen, that’s how it’s going to happen. That’s kind of where I’m at with it.”
Chicago has been unlucky at times, as despite losing nine games, they have a point differential of -24. In comparison, the Los Angeles Rams, who are 7-6, have a point differential of -36, while the Falcons (6-7) have a point differential of -55.
The Bears have already fired Matt Eberflus, who was not the right man for the job, as evidenced by his poor decisions late in the games. He went 14-32 in three seasons with the franchise.
In their last four games of the season, the Bears have to face all their division rivals and the Seattle Seahawks. Thomas Brown, who is the team’s interim head coach for the rest of the season, has to work hard to avoid the team ending the year on an 11-game losing streak.
Ryan Poles Is Under Pressure To Get the Right Head Coach
The Bears are unlikely to make Brown their new head coach, and general manager Ryan Poles is under immense pressure to find the right man for his quarterback. Williams is a generational talent and has shown glimpses of his brilliance during his rookie season.
The franchise needs to find an offensive-minded head coach as he can bring the best out of the USC product and make him a superstar, which he was projected to be entering the NFL.
Williams is known for his aggressiveness with the ball, which often seemed reckless. But he has not thrown a single interception since Week 6. This might sound good, but in reality, it is not, as the Bears haven’t won a game since then.
Poles needs a head coach who will not limit Williams’ talent and allow him to play like he did in college. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury are two candidates that the Bears will likely pursue, and either will be good for the 23-year-old quarterback.
The Bears’ general manager is highly regarded in the league, but the team is 14-33 since he took the job. Poles has done a pretty good job in roster construction, but unless he gets the right head coach, nothing else matters.