Caleb Williams’ self-blame may be the leadership moment Chicago needed

The Chicago Bears’ season has taken a surprising turn. After beginning 0-2, they’ve rattled off four straight wins to climb to 4-2 and enter the NFC North race. Yet, in the middle of this surge, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has been harder on himself than anyone else in Chicago.

Following the Bears’ 26-14 home win over the New Orleans Saints, Williams called his own performance “frustrating,” saying he felt like he “was hurting this team more than helping them.”

His words, though self-critical, might represent something bigger, a young quarterback taking ownership when it would’ve been easier to celebrate.

While the Bears’ defense and ground game carried the day, Williams’ postgame reflection showed accountability and a growing understanding of leadership.

His honesty and willingness to shoulder blame could be the very spark this locker room needs as the team eyes control of one of football’s toughest divisions.

Also read: Caleb Williams explains what makes Bears different

Williams and Johnson aligned in criticism, divided in details

Head coach Ben Johnson echoed his quarterback’s disappointment after the victory, admitting that Chicago’s passing game was far from efficient.

“We weren’t efficient enough in the passing game,” Johnson told reporters. “We’ll see why that was. I was hopeful by Week 6 we would play cleaner football than that.”

He added,

“When you win, you usually can coach a little harder. We’re always truth tellers. When it’s bad, we’ll tell them what we’ve got to clean up.”

Williams completed 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards with one interception and no touchdowns, finishing with a 61.7 passer rating. He also rushed for negative four yards, a rare stat for a quarterback known for mobility.

Afterward, Williams admitted he missed open receivers and struggled to create when plays broke down.

“Guys got open, and I think I missed,” he said. “It’s just being able to have it on my conscience that I can help this team.”

Where Williams sees a personal failure to “be Superman,” Johnson sees a young passer still learning how to execute within structure.

The head coach wants mastery of fundamentals before creativity takes over. One 26-yard completion to DJ Moore showed Williams’ potential when he anticipates routes rather than reacting late.

The contrast between player and coach isn’t conflict, it’s calibration. Williams wants greatness now; Johnson wants consistency first. If the quarterback’s accountability keeps matching his ambition, this moment of self-critique might mark the true beginning of his leadership era in Chicago.

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