The Chicago Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday morning after just nine games in the role. Before the season, the Bears interviewed Washington's OC Kliff Kingsbury, Tampa Bay's OC Liam Coen, and Atlanta's OC Zac Robinson, ultimately hiring Waldron. Now, after firing him, the Bears' coaching situation continues to be in turmoil. For rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, this marks his second offensive coordinator change, and his first NFL season is only halfway through. Chicago’s instability is concerning.
More issues in Chicago?
What’s even more troubling are reports from ESPN 1000's Silvy, revealing that some Bears veterans approached team leadership at Halas Hall, suggesting the Bears bench Williams in favor of backup QB Tyson Bagent. The question is whether these veterans are trying to protect Williams or if they have doubts about his ability as the starting quarterback. Although head coach Matt Eberflus confirmed on Monday that Williams remains the starter, another rumor from last week's humiliating loss to New England raises questions about Williams' standing in the locker room. This incident could point to tension within the team, suggesting that Williams may not be as well-liked as some assumed.
The optics aren't great for Caleb Williams.
The moment I'm referring to occurred near the end of the Patriots game, when Caleb Williams was sacked and left lying on the field. Not a single Bears lineman came over to help him up. The link to this play is below.
https://x.com/dave_bfr/status/1855784886088376751
However, a Patriots defensive lineman can be seen helping Caleb up with a smile, followed by a condescending pat on the head, which certainly doesn't look good. On its own, this play is concerning. But there have been multiple instances this season where it seems players are frustrated with Caleb Williams, particularly DJ Moore, who has expressed frustration in several games already. DJ was known for being easygoing, so it raises questions about what's happening in Chicago this year. Some fans and even media members speculate that certain Bears players may not like or believe in the rookie quarterback.
Is this speculation fair? Given the evidence so far this season, I think it’s reasonable. If any of this is true, it’s a serious issue for the Bears, especially considering they invested the number one overall pick in Caleb. If players are already losing faith, it could have devastating consequences for Chicago’s future.
Matt Eberflus responds.
ESPN's Courtney Cronin asked Bears head coach Matt Eberflus about this specific play, and here's what he had to say.
"I know our guys are together. I know our guys care for each other. I know our guys have each other’s back. I know that because we’re in the room with them, and I have no doubt about that.”
It's the usual response you'd expect from a head coach, but I'm not entirely sure it will silence the criticism surrounding the Bears and rookie QB Caleb Williams.
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