Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has handled the in-season firings of each offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus throughout what’s grow to be a irritating rookie season.
On Wednesday, Williams spoke with reporters for the primary time since Eberflus was proven the door following Chicago’s loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
“It is attention-grabbing,” Williams stated of Eberflus’ firing, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin shared. “…It is robust. He is a purpose of why I am right here. He drafted me. And so going by way of that and that course of is attention-grabbing for me.”
The Bears fired Waldron amid a three-game shedding streak that dropped the membership to 4-5. Chicago subsequently suffered three straight one-score defeats, and it is now clear that Eberflus lost his locker room earlier than he was dismissed with the crew at 4-8.
Passing sport coordinator Thomas Brown served as Chicago’s offensive play-caller following Waldron’s firing and can now end the marketing campaign as interim head coach.
“I would not say that I am completely happy for it,” Williams stated about what he is skilled since Week 1. “Having these moments is positively one thing that can assist me sooner or later. Having these situational moments that it is laborious to rep in follow, having a few of these moments, having your coach fired or coaches fired, and folks being promoted. You realize, issues like that each one taking place inside a pair weeks of one another, you already know I believe it might assist me in the long term with the ability to deal with all of this, deal with this primary yr and with the ability to develop from it.”
Chicago made Williams the primary total choose of the 2024 NFL Draft, and lots of predicted within the closing days of summer season that he would win the Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Award. Per the StatMuse website, Williams started Thursday ranked third amongst first-year quarterbacks with 2,612 passing yards and 14 passing touchdowns for the season. He is fourth amongst certified rookies with an 86.1 passer ranking.
On Thursday, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders because the betting favourite at -250 odds to assert Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Award honors. Williams was at +6000 odds that morning.
“I believe it’s a stepping-stone really with my improvement as a result of I believe down the road, I am going to have totally different OCs or totally different head coaches or regardless of the case could also be,” Williams added throughout his feedback. “And so with the ability to deal with it my first yr, deal with a brand new playbook, deal with all these totally different adjustments, deal with all of this I believe it positively will assist the event as a substitute of injuring it or something like that.”
As for what’s subsequent for Williams and Co., numerous stories have linked the Bears with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson could possibly be probably the most coveted candidate within the upcoming head coach hiring cycle and has been credited with serving to Detroit’s Jared Goff emerge as a top-tier quarterback.