Caleb Williams is earning praise as a top-tier talent, but his approach to preparation has caught some heat. A recent ESPN report has former Chicago Bears coaches questioning his accountability.
“Yeah, so football maturity is going to be a big theme for him leaguewide… They felt like he could have handled that a little better from an accountability standpoint,” said ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler about Caleb Williams’ admission that he watched game film alone.
The concern stems from quotes in Seth Wickersham’s American Kings that Caleb Williams preferred unsupervised film study. That raised eyebrows with Matt Eberflus and others, who expect rookies to lean on staff for structured review and feedback.
But it’s not all critique. Fowler stressed the Bears have been coaching Caleb Williams hard on body language, huddle presence, and sideline composure. That marks effort and leadership learning in real time.
On top of his stats, which are setting the bar with 3,541 passing yards, 20 TDs, 6 INTs, Caleb Williams has been navigating off-field lessons to keep growing his potential. And with Ben Johnson’s arrival as head coach, it should set a new standard for his supported growth at Halas Hall.
There’s still plenty of work to be done. Caleb Williams’ potential is already highly rated looking at his numbers. But if his team wants to work on his longevity, they will need to look more into what goes outside the field, not just inside it. If the cards are played right, we might just be looking at a player that goes from rookie phenom to franchise face.
Caleb Williams’ Film Room Confidence Sparks Debate on NFL Readiness
Caleb Williams isn’t backing down from how he prepares. In American King, the quarterback shared that his film sessions aren’t built around anyone else’s notes or schedules.
“No one tells me what to watch. I just turn it on,” Caleb Williams told his father.
You can see a mindset that’s confident and independent. Some see it as a sign of initiative. Others say Caleb Williams would benefit from leaning more into structured review with coaches, especially at the NFL level.
The Bears have reportedly been working with Caleb Williams on soft skills like body language and leadership cues. But this latest insight into his habits adds a layer of complexity to how his development is being viewed.
Whether that kind of preparation turns into long-term success will be a storyline to watch. For now, Caleb Williams is clearly betting on himself and making it known that he’s in full control of his own playbook.
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