The 2024 season certainly hasn’t gone how Chicago Bears fans were hoping it might with rookie quarterback and recent No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams taking over.
Chicago enters its Week 14 date at San Francisco sporting a disappointing 4-8 record and riding a six-game losing streak.
The stretch of futility and the embarrassing finish to its 23-20 Thanksgiving Day loss at the Detroit Lions resulted in the Bears firing head coach Matt Eberflus. It probably didn’t help matters that a record-setting 37.5 million viewers tuned in to watch Eberflus and the Bears bungle those final seconds.
As Williams and the Bears navigate early turbulence in his career, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had plenty of good things to say about the young Chicago signal-caller.
“As talented as there is. The stuff that you saw in college, you can see in the NFL. As good of a thrower as there is, born to play the position, got the athletic ability to do whatever, he’s got the speed to do whatever.
“He’s gotten a lot of playing time, he’s getting better as this year goes, I think he’s getting a lot more consistent. I think he’s been playing his best ball probably here the last few weeks. He’s put them in a chance to win here in these last few games there,” Shanahan said of Williams.
Williams is completing 61.6% of his passes and has thrown for 2,612 yards and 14 touchdowns against five interceptions. Each of Chicago’s past three defeats have come against NFC North divisional foes and each have been determined by one score.
For Williams’ part, he says the early adversity in his career will help he and the Bears longterm.
“I think this is a stepping-stone of development, to be able to have all of this in my first year. I wouldn’t say that I’m happy for it. Having these moments is definitely something that will help me in the future.
“Having these situational moments that it’s hard to rep in practice, having some of these moments, having your coach fired or coaches fired, and people being promoted. You know, things like that all happening within a couple weeks of each other, you know I think it would help me in the long run being able to handle all of this, handle this first year and being able to grow from it,” Williams said.
Thomas Brown is serving as the Chicago Bears’ interim head coach.
As Williams and Co. stroll into town, San Francisco (5-7) is looking to snap its own three-game skid when the Bears come calling to Levi’s Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT and the game will be televised on Fox.