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Rookie Caleb Williams Addresses Chicago Bears Fans Booing After Loss To Seattle

After a record-tying tenth consecutive loss, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams spoke on the organization's current state, and the former USC Trojans quarterback held himself accountable for his role.

Kyron Samuels

Dec 26, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
Dec 26, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images / Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
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On the final Thursday Night Football game of the 2024 NFL season, the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks went to battle in a historically dreadful slop fest. The Seahawks were able to hold on to a late lead and escape with a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Chicago Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams fell to 4-12 on the season and lost their tenth consecutive game, matching a franchise record set just two seasons ago. 

The former USC Trojans star once again showed flashes of the brilliance that warranted him being selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, juxtaposed with several head-scratching mistakes befitting a rookie in his 16th start and on his third offensive coordinator and second head coach in a season. Above all, Williams needs an environment that sets him apart from the ever-changing rollercoaster that is the current Bears administration. Not just Williams, the entire Bears team needs that stability.

“This is my first year. Their frustration [fans] go way longer back than, you know, i’ve been here. My job is to go out there and win games. We don’t focus on outside noise. Fans are going to cheer and maybe boo sometimes. You can’t react to that. We have a job to do. Sometimes you don’t do so well on the job,” said Williams on fans booing during the game. 

In the closing moments of the game, Caleb Williams unheroically lost his streak of consecutive passing attempts without an interception at 353; it finished as the fourth-longest in a single season in NFL history. Williams currently sits at 3,393 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, 62 percent completion, six interceptions, and 479 rushing yards despite being sacked more than any quarterback in the league. 

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While it’s clear Williams and the Bears need new leadership, interim coach Thomas Brown has been dealt somewhat of a raw deal. Brown was never supposed to go from passing game coordinator to interim offensive coordinator to interim head coach in a six-week span. It’s an amazing opportunity at face value, but the reality is the Bears are a broken team amid a franchise-worst losing streak with a dysfunctional organization at the top.  

“Ryan Poles, the only reason you would keep him is to keep a little stability for Caleb Williams. That's the only reason you'd do it. Because every other decision you can find, you could give a reason to fire him," said six-time Chicago Bears Pro Bowler Olin Kreutz said on 670 The Score’s post-game show. 

Despite that, it should be noted that since Thomas Brown assumed play-calling duties, Caleb Williams had his best and most consistent stretch of play on the field. Although it only showed in spurts against the Seahawks, Brown has unquestionably aided in Williams’s development as an NFL quarterback. In the six games leading up to Thursday night’s contest, Williams threw for 1,486 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, zero interceptions, 65.1 percent completion, and also led the Bears in rushing over that span.

There are many areas for the young quarterback and coach to grow, but it shouldn’t be glossed over how much improvement the Bears offense and Williams specifically has had under Brown’s seven-game stint. Last night was an atrocious showing, but there’s zero reason to harp on it.

Sweeping change is coming. The quarterback of the future has shown you plenty to be excited going forward. The impact players on the team are healthy. As far as rebuilds go, the Bears are set up fairly decent if the right general manager and coach get an opportunity.

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Kyron Samuels
KYRON SAMUELS

Kyron Samuels is a former college and professional football player now a writer, analyst, & digital host. Kyron is a writer for USC Trojans on SI and contributes to Oregon Ducks on SI. A graduate and letterman at Jacksonville State University, Samuels was a three-year starter, two-time all-conference, and won three consecutive conference titles. After a four-year professional stint between the AFL & XFL, Samuels retired from football. In 2022, Samuels was inducted into the Fairhope Athletic Hall of Fame. Post-playing career, Samuels has become a credentialed sports media member covering the NFL, UFL, USFL, & college football. The NFL Combine, Reese’s Senior Bowl, & East-West Shrine Bowl are amongst the events Kyron has covered. As a guest and host, Samuels has been featured on ESPNRadio, FoxSportsRadio, & IHeartRadio. Outside of sports media, Samuels works as a scouting consultant and has experience coaching at the collegiate level.

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