Despite being one of the most-hyped rookie quarterbacks in recent memory as the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft, Caleb Williams witnessed a forgettable start to his campaign with the Chicago Bears. A promising 4-2 record, which almost became 5-2, collapsed into one of the worst downturns in over a century due to a heartbreaking final play against the Washington Commanders.

After scoring a go-ahead touchdown with 27 seconds remaining in Week 7, the Bears found themselves on the wrong end of a stunning Hail Mary from quarterback Jayden Daniels to wide receiver Noah Brown, transforming likely victory into devastating defeat. This situation led to significant discontent with head coach Matt Eberflus, compounded by poor internal management.

In a recent conversation with Esquire, Williams shared that Eberflus’ handling of the loss “annoyed” many within the locker room, attributing the defeat to strategic mistakes and a lack of discipline.

“How [Eberflus] handled it at that time…was something that was discussed throughout the locker room and annoyed people,” Williams remarked.

Things took a turn for the worse for Eberflus, who was dismissed after a Thanksgiving defeat where he notably failed to call a timeout in crucial moments, a decision that led to an unremarkable finish to the season under interim coach Thomas Brown.

Looking ahead, Williams prepares for his second NFL season under new head coach Ben Johnson after posting impressive rookie stats: 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 68 sacks taken.