Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been the focus of scrutiny on several occasions since entering the NFL. That continued in training camp as a viral video of the 2024 No. 1 overall pick missing targets on the net and then reacting negatively spread like wildfire.
Following Thursday's practice session, Williams was asked about the moment caught on video, and the signal caller laid out exactly what was going on in that particular drill and why he laughed off the criticism it brought.
As you can see from the clip below, courtesy of the Bears Film Room podcast, Williams walked fans through the point of the drill the quarterbacks were participating in and why the reaction to the clip was overblown.
Caleb Williams was asked about the viral video of him missing the targets on the net pic.twitter.com/ddIld7rsL6
— Dave (@dave_bfr) August 7, 2025
Bears QB Caleb Williams Addresses Criticism of Viral Camp Passing Video
"It is what it is," Williams said. "So, it's a quick delivery drill... You're not trying to get the laces or anything. It's not like you're going through reads.... We were trying to aim as if it's a screen. It's a competition between us and the guys. How fast you can get it out, how accurate you can get it out. They just so happened to blow that one up and not any of the other ones. It's a fun drill to work on accuracy, not using the laces, and also just getting your feet under you."
Considering the backlash Williams faced from almost every angle of the national media over this video, his reaction was the type of cool, calm, and collected response you would want out of a starting quarterback.
Based on his comments on the matter earlier in the day, Bears general manager Ryan Poles feels the same about the "national crisis" of Williams struggling in practice under a new coordinator in a new scheme. Poles left no doubts that he is confident in Williams being the right quarterback to execute the offense in the Windy City.
With the backing of the GM, his head coach, and the offensive coordinator, Chicago's decision makers believe the franchise is in good hands with Williams under center, as they will teach him all the things he needs to master head coach Ben Johnson's offense.
What they cannot teach Williams might be what excites the offensive staff the most, however. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle elaborated on that when discussing the ability Williams has to ad-lib when things don't go as planned in the pocket.
"The best thing he does is the unscripted stuff, the two-minute stuff where he's able to go out and really play and show the competitiveness that makes him who he is," Doyle said.
That competitive spirit and ability to make things happen when things break down around him are some of the reasons why fans should be as confident in Williams under center as the staff and front office are.