Caleb Williamsis struggling to find his rhythm in the NFL, and critics have been ruthless. However, the young Chicago Bears quarterback has some defenders, including NFL legend Michael Irvin, who is urging fans and analysts to give him room to develop.
Williams was a sensation in college. In three years in the NCAA, first with Oklahoma and then with USC, he completed 735 passes out of 1,099 attempts, gaining 9,782 yards, throwing 93 touchdowns, and only 14 interceptions. His stellar performance even earned him the Heisman Trophy in 2022.
Inevitably, the comparisons began. Some rushed to crown Williams as the next Patrick Mahomes, setting sky-high expectations for the rookie.
His NFL debut, however, was rocky. Williams appeared flustered and rushed in his first two games, against the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans. The critics pounced, but Irvin quickly stepped in to defend him, reminding everyone that this is just the beginning of Williams’ career.
Michael Irvin comes to Caleb Williams’ defense
In Week 1, the Bears scraped by with a 24-17 win over the Titans despite Williams’ shaky performance. In Week 2, they fell 19-13 to the Texans, though the rookie showed marked improvement. Irvin urged everyone to take a closer look at Williams’ progress.
The NFL Hall of Famer noted that in the game against the Texans, Williams appeared more composed, following the playbook, throwing passes on time, and playing with greater organization. “Once he masters that on-time, on-script football, then all of his unorganized, off-script football can be very effective,” the three-time Super Bowl champion explained.
While Irvin acknowledged that this is how Mahomes plays, he emphasized that it’s unfair to expect the same from Williams just yet. “Now we put this kid in the same breath as Patrick Mahomes-let’s give him time to catch his breath,” Irvin said, urging patience.
The Bears must support their rookie
Irvin admitted that Williams still has to work through the learning curve to succeed in the NFL. However, he also stressed that the Bears have a responsibility to help develop him and build a strong team around him.
Although Williams’ improvement between his first and second game was noticeable, he struggled mightily against the Texans. Irvin cautioned the Bears against their historical tendency to squander promising quarterbacks, especially after Williams suffered seven sacks and threw two interceptions.
If Williams can adjust to the pace of professional football, and if the Bears can surround him with the right support, he could eventually be compared to greats like Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, or Lamar Jackson.
