Caleb Williams Reflects on Bears’ Turbulent Season and Coaching Changes
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — For the first time since the Chicago Bears made the shocking decision to fire head coach Matt Eberflus during a six-game losing streak, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams opened up about the whirlwind of changes he’s experienced in his debut NFL season. Despite the chaos, Williams is keeping a positive outlook, seeing the challenges as opportunities for growth.
The Bears parted ways with Eberflus following a Thanksgiving Day heartbreaker—a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions. The game’s defining moment came in the fourth quarter when a critical delay of game penalty derailed Chicago’s comeback attempt. It was the Bears’ fourth one-score loss since Week 8, and the mounting frustration over coaching and game management decisions ultimately led to Eberflus’ dismissal. Notably, Eberflus became the first coach in the Bears’ 105-year history to be fired midseason.
In the wake of Eberflus’ departure, Thomas Brown was promoted to interim head coach for the final five games of the season. This move came just three weeks after Brown had taken over as offensive coordinator following Shane Waldron’s firing. The Bears, now sitting at 4-8, are clearly in a state of flux, but Williams is determined to make the most of the situation.
“It’s interesting,” Williams said when asked about Eberflus’ firing. “I don’t get any say or choice over that. I have to roll with the punches. Like I said, it’s interesting. It’s tough. He’s a reason of why I’m here. He drafted me. And so going through that and that process is interesting for me.”
Adapting to Change: A Rookie’s Perspective
Despite the upheaval, Williams doesn’t believe the constant turnover will hinder his development. In fact, he sees it as a valuable learning experience.
“I think this is a steppingstone of development, to be able to have all of this in my first year,” Williams explained. “I wouldn’t say that I’m happy for it. Having these moments is definitely something that will help me in the future. Having these situational moments that it’s hard to rep in practice, having some of these moments, having your coach fired or coaches fired, and people being promoted. You know, things like that all happening within a couple weeks of each other, you know I think it would help me in the long run being able to handle all of this, handle this first year and being able to grow from it.”
Williams’ ability to “roll with the punches” has been a recurring theme throughout his rookie campaign. He referenced the phrase six times during his Wednesday press conference at Halas Hall, underscoring the mindset he’s leaned on to navigate the challenges of his first NFL season.
Thomas Brown Steps Up
As interim head coach, Thomas Brown will now juggle the dual responsibilities of overseeing the entire team while continuing to prioritize Williams’ development. Brown, who will move from the coaches’ booth to the sideline for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, has already made a noticeable impact on the rookie quarterback’s performance.
Since Brown took over playcalling duties in Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers, Williams’ Total QBR has skyrocketed from 39 to 77. His completion percentage has improved by 3%, and his yards per dropback have increased from 4.9 to 6.2. Perhaps most impressively, Williams has thrown five touchdowns without a single turnover during that span.
Brown, however, is quick to share credit for Williams’ progress. “I would say first off, I am not the sole person responsible for Caleb’s development,” Brown said. “He has a big part in that. Obviously, I have been charged with kind of leading the way with him and the team now as well. But I think his response has been awesome. My job is to be an effective communicator, be honest and be direct about what he’s doing well and what he’s not doing well, and I have the same exact message for the team.”
Looking Ahead
For Williams, the challenges of his rookie season are less about setbacks and more about building resilience. He believes the experience of adapting to new playbooks, coaching changes, and unexpected adversity will serve him well in the long run.
“I think it is a steppingstone actually with my development because I think down the line, I’ll have different OCs or different head coaches or whatever the case may be,” Williams said. “And so being able to handle it my first year, handle a new playbook, handle all these different changes, handle all of this I think it definitely will help the development instead of hurting it or anything like that.”
As the Bears prepare to face the 49ers, all eyes will be on Williams and Brown to see how they navigate the remainder of the season. For now, the rookie quarterback is focused on growth, determined to turn a turbulent year into a foundation for future success.
- Key Stats: Williams’ Total QBR has improved from 39 to 77 since Week 11.
- Coaching Carousel: The Bears have fired two coaches in three weeks.
- Next Game: Bears vs. 49ers on Sunday.
Originally Written by: Courtney Cronin
