CHICAGO BEARS
Chicago Bears

Bill Belichick critical of Bears' QB Caleb Williams after preseason performance

Williams was the Bears' No. 1 overall draft pick

Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams
Actualizado

Despite the buzz surrounding Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears' rookie quarterback, Bill Belichick isn't convinced.

During his stint as an analyst on Inside the NFL on the CW, the New England Patriots coach shared his thoughts on Williams' preseason performance, offering a critical perspective that stood out from the general excitement.

Caleb Williams refuses to be overshadowed by Patrick Mahomes behind-the-back

Belichick was particularly unimpressed with Williams' accuracy, noting his 10-for-20 completion rate.

"Well, he wasn't accurate, he was 10-for-20," Belichick remarked, which drew laughter from host Ryan Clark and fellow analyst Chad Ochocinco Johnson.

He also added, "There were a couple of highlight plays, but they weren't that good."

Moreover, Belichick downplayed the competition Williams faced in the preseason, saying, "Whoever they played in preseason, it wasn't the best players on the other team."

Although Williams did see action against some of the Buffalo Bills' starters in a 33-6 win for the Bears, Belichick remained unimpressed.

Belichick's high standards

In his preseason debut, the 22-year-old Williams, the Bears' No. 1 overall pick out of USC, completed 4 of 7 es for 95 yards and led two scoring drives.

Throughout his 43 preseason snaps, Williams showcased flashes of his playmaking ability, both with his arm strength and mobility outside the pocket.

However, his performance did not seem to live up to Belichick's high standards.

While Belichick downplayed Williams' potential, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus had a different view. He praised the young quarterback for his work ethic and progress.

"He's been working his tail off for 15 practices... All this drill work is paying off, and I can see improvements," Eberflus stated, expressing optimism about Williams' development.

Coming off an impressive 2023 college season where he threw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns, and rushed for 11 more, Williams enters the NFL with high expectations.

As the Bears gear up for their regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans on September 8, Williams still has plenty to prove - especially to skeptics like Bill Belichick.

Chicago BearsCaleb Williams makes history with the Chicago Bears without ever taking a regular season snap
NFLNFL Week 1 Odds: Which teams are favored to win the opening NFL weekend?
Fantasy FootballNFL Bye Weeks 2024: What teams have week 5 and the subsequent weeks off