“I Love Them” – Caleb Williams Turns Criticism Into Motivation Ahead of Year 3

Facing criticism from fans and experts alike has benefitted Caleb Williams a great deal, making him work harder to prove them wrong.

“I Love Them” – Caleb Williams Turns Criticism Into Motivation Ahead of Year 3

Caleb Williams (Image via IMAGO)

Haters can’t keep Caleb Williams down. Williams doesn’t mind fans taking a shot at him. Williams sees proving the doubters wrong as the best part of being the Chicago Bears quarterback.

Williams faced severe criticism after finishing his rookie season with just five wins. He bounced back in year two, helping the Bears win the NFC North after a seven-year gap and winning a playoff game for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

Although the year ended in a disappointing defeat in the divisional round, it proved that the Bears are on the right trajectory. Williams credited the jeers from the rival and his own fans for making him grow as a football player and as an individual.

Yeah, I love them. It’s one of my favorite things. I don’t need them, but it’s always a little extra belief in myself, a little extra confidence in myself. It just throws a little bit of gas on the fire, and all you need is a little bit.

Caleb Williams said during a recent appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast

Williams’ facing flak from the crowd dates back to his college days at USC. From being name-called for wearing nail polish to a media trial for crying in his mother’s arms after a defeat, Williams experienced a multitude of hostility.

Williams replied by winning the Heisman Trophy and later becoming the first overall draft pick. His rookie season was full of adversity. Constantly losing games reduced his confidence in coaching, so he sought help outside of the organization.

Ahead of the 2025 season, the Bears made several big changes, starting by appointing former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as head coach. Johnson elevated Williams’ play to the next level. The Bears went 11-6 with Williams narrowly missing out on becoming the first Chicago quarterback to throw 4000 passing yards. Williams contributed 30 total touchdowns and conceded just 7 turnovers.

Williams threw for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions to defeat the Packers 31-27. In the divisional title game, the Bears lost by just three points against the Rams.

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Super Bowl winner makes a bold claim about Caleb Williams

FOX broadcaster and former NFL offensive lineman Mark Schlereth, who won three Super Bowls during his playing days, ripped Williams in a fiery rant. Schlereth flat-out said that Williams is “not a good quarterback.”

"I Love Them": Caleb Williams Turns Criticism Into Motivation Ahead of Year 3
Caleb Williams (Image via IMAGO)

Schlereth said on his podcast,

[Caleb Williams] makes big-time plays, but is he a good quarterback? No, he’s not a good quarterback because he doesn’t play on schedule. Watch how many times they get [late in games], and they’re down 21-7. Then he holds the ball, scrambles around, makes three big throws and all of a sudden they win 24-21… That’s not playing quarterback at an efficient level. That’s being a dynamic playmaker. So, at this point, Caleb Williams isn’t a good quarterback.

Funny enough, Williams shared the video clip on Twitter.

Schlereth’s assessment may seem harsh, but it is grounded in reality. Even though Williams showed immense growth in just his second year, he was far from perfect. The Bears trailed in most of the games and left the responsibility on Williams to drag them out of danger.

He made several clutch plays throughout the year, but he also had sloppy moments that reflected on his pass completion percentage (58.1%). It dropped to just 52% in the playoffs. So, there’s work for Williams to do before year three.

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