Caleb Williams, the highly-touted first-year quarterback for the Chicago Bears, is enduring a brutal introduction to life in the NFL. After starting the season a promising 3–2, the Bears have now dropped eight consecutive games, leaving the team reeling at 3–10 and Williams facing scrutiny not just for his performance, but for his demeanor as well.
The concerns about Williams’ body language came into focus during Monday night’s 30–12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, a game in which the 2024 No. 1 overall pick took a pounding.
The Bears’ struggling offensive line allowed him to be hit repeatedly—something that has unfortunately become common this season. Williams, who turned 22 earlier this year, was sacked again in the second half, appearing visibly shaken and frustrated as he headed to the sideline.
ESPN analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman observed during the broadcast that Williams looked “defeated.” Cameras captured Williams on the bench, where he lay sideways and appeared to be nursing his bruised body and wounded pride.
While most would consider the hits he has taken this season more than enough reason to show some pain and frustration, not everyone sees it that way.
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Some critics have highlighted a pattern, pointing to Williams’ college days at Oklahoma and later USC. Screenshots and video clips circulating online show the quarterback displaying similar dejected body language when facing adversity in past seasons.
Most notably, after a tough loss at USC, Williams was famously photographed climbing into the stands, seeking comfort from his mother as he openly wept. While many defended his emotional honesty, others worried it might signal a difficulty in handling high-pressure moments with the stoicism often associated with professional quarterbacks.
Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker and now a prominent television analyst, took Williams to task for how he carried himself on the sidelines. During Tuesday’s edition of “The Facility” on FS1, Acho was blunt in his critique.
“Caleb, you’re not a damsel! You’re not in distress! We do not feel sorry for you,” Acho said. “It is the National Football League. Caleb Williams’ body language is starting to become not just concerning, but irritating. … It’s as if Caleb Williams expects us to feel sorry for him. Monday night during the game, yes, he took a hard hit. We’ve all taken hard hits before. Why are you sitting there laying on the bench like somebody’s gonna come pick you up? Nobody’s coming to rescue you, Caleb Williams.”
Acho’s comments reflect a sentiment that some fans and analysts share: that while it’s understandable for a player to show frustration or pain after tough plays, a successful NFL quarterback must project resilience and resolve, even when battered and bruised.
There’s no denying that Williams has taken a beating this year. He’s been sacked a staggering 58 times and hit over 90 times, surpassed only by the likes of Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes—both established NFL stars who have shown they can maintain composure in dire situations.
The NFL’s longest season in history, combined with a team struggling to protect its franchise quarterback, has undoubtedly tested Williams’ endurance and spirit.
Williams himself recently admitted to feeling discouraged about the way the season has unfolded. In a recent press conference, he delivered a quote some deemed depressing, acknowledging just how challenging it is to find bright spots in a year where wins are scarce and injuries pile up.
The Bears, mired in a months-long losing streak, appear headed toward another rebuild. For Williams—touted as a generational talent—it’s a harsh lesson in the unforgiving nature of professional football.
Part of thriving in the NFL, experts note, is learning how to lose without losing composure. It’s one thing to feel pain and frustration, but another to visibly display defeat and despair. For a quarterback, who must lead both on and off the field, body language sends powerful messages to teammates, coaches, opponents, and fans.
The scrutiny Williams faces is not unique. Many rookie quarterbacks have struggled with the intensity and physicality of the league, and have had to learn the fine art of projecting poise even when under immense pressure. The difference here is the hype that preceded Williams, his high draft status, and the early glimpses of brilliance he showed when the Bears started 3–2.
While he may not have the luxury of a seasoned offensive line or an offense firing on all cylinders, Williams can control how he reacts to adversity.
As the Bears near the end of a lost season, the final games may serve as an opportunity for Williams to demonstrate growth—not only in reading defenses and making plays, but in maintaining a steadier presence amid chaos.
Only time will tell whether Williams internalizes these criticisms and adjusts his demeanor.
For now, as the Bears prepare for a Week 16 matchup against the Detroit Lions, all eyes remain on the young quarterback, waiting to see if he can rise above the pain, the pressure, and the probing critiques to become the unflappable leader Chicago hoped he would be.
