Sunday cannot come quickly enough for the Chicago Bears. With an upcoming matchup against the Green Bay Packers, the Bears have a chance to change the narrative that has dominated their season thus far. Currently, the prevailing sentiment is that the franchise has mishandled the Caleb Williams era to an astonishing degree, despite the fact that they are only nine games into his rookie campaign.
Earlier this week, the Bears dismissed offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, but instead of alleviating concerns, this move has only led to more criticism and media attention, with numerous television segments dissecting the state of the organization.
The discussion continued on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Thursday morning, where former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky joined host Mike Greenberg in criticizing the Bears. Both Orlovsky and Greenberg agreed that the situation in Chicago is nothing short of an organizational disaster.
Orlovsky began by questioning Adam Schefter about whether there were actual conversations within the Bears organization about benching Williams in favor of backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. Upon hearing Schefter confirm that such discussions had indeed taken place at some level, Orlovsky reacted visibly, covering his eyes and rubbing his temples as if he were a frustrated parent dealing with an exasperating morning routine. His body language said it all—disbelief, frustration, and a sense of bewilderment at the direction the franchise was headed.
The former quarterback then stood up, raised his arms to the heavens, and expressed his dismay. “How about, Chicago, you coach him?” Orlovsky asked rhetorically. “Instead of throwing him to the side and sweeping the problem under the rug. Chicago thinks they’re dating Caleb Williams. You’re married to him, okay?”
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Orlovsky continued his impassioned rant, urging the Bears to stick with their young quarterback through the tough times. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” he said. “Who’s tough in the building? You coach him through this stuff. You go, ‘we’re going to get through this together.'”
Orlovsky’s comments were delivered with characteristic energy and animation, pacing around the set as he laid out his thoughts. However, it’s worth noting that despite all the noise, the Bears ultimately did not bench Caleb Williams.
According to reports, it was veteran players on the team who initially brought the idea of benching Williams to management, suggesting that the coaching staff might actually be doing what Orlovsky implored them to do—standing by their young quarterback and coaching him through the challenges.
The Bears’ situation has led to a lot of handwringing and finger-pointing, but perhaps it’s time for everyone to take a collective deep breath. While the Bears are certainly not where they hoped to be at this point in the season, they are still not out of playoff contention.
Caleb Williams has only played nine games behind an offensive line that has struggled mightily, which has undoubtedly contributed to the team’s difficulties. For all the criticism being thrown their way, it’s possible that the Bears are trying to do right by Williams and help him develop, even if the results have not yet been evident.
The reality is that the Bears have a young quarterback with immense talent, and it will take time to unlock his full potential. The path to success is rarely linear, especially for rookie quarterbacks dealing with a porous offensive line and a team trying to find its identity.
The firing of Shane Waldron may have been intended to reset the offense and give Williams a better chance to succeed, but it also highlights the instability that has plagued the organization.
Orlovsky’s plea for the Bears to coach Williams through adversity speaks to the broader challenge facing the franchise. Developing a young quarterback requires patience, commitment, and a willingness to endure the inevitable growing pains.
The Bears have the opportunity to build something meaningful with Williams at the helm, but it will require a unified effort from everyone in the organization, from the front office to the coaching staff to the players on the field.
While it’s easy to declare the sky is falling after a disappointing start to the season, the truth is that the story of Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears is still being written.
There is still time for the Bears to get things on track, and Sunday’s game against the Packers represents a chance to take a step in the right direction.
If the Bears can rally around their young quarterback, improve their offensive line play, and find some stability on offense, they might be able to change the narrative and prove that the future in Chicago is brighter than it currently seems.
