Will Caleb Williams be benched? Bears HC reveals QB's status for Week 11
Caleb Williams' first season in the NFL has been a bit of a rollercoaster. The quarterback, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, has alternated between good and bad moments over his first games, but sitting in fourth place inside the division is far from the expectations set for the Chicago Bears in 2024.
Such is the disappointment with the offense, which has scored just 27 points over the past three games combined, that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was fired on Thursday. The Bears scored just three points against the 3-7 New England Patriots, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
With offensive changes following the Week 10 debacle, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday that a quarterback change could've been discussed in Chicago. But on Tuesday, head coach Matt Eberflus ended any speculation about Williams' status, confirming him as the starter in Chicago going forward.
Eberflus himself is under fire, and many fans ask for his job. Over his three seasons as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, he has a 14-29 record, and it was widely considered a surprise that he returned for his third season. The betting odds say he's the second-likeliest head coach to be the next fired in the NFL.
Caleb Williams' stats in the 2024 season
After the first nine games of his NFL career, Caleb Williams has nine touchdowns, five interceptions, 1,785 passing yards, and has led his team to four wins.
His best performance, curiously, did not happen in the United States. The Chicago Bears played an international game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London during Week 6, and he had an excellent performance, with 226 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 35-16 win.
Williams was the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Bears had three options to choose between their current quarterback, Jayden Daniels (who went #2 overall to the Washington Commanders) and Drake Maye (who went #3 overall to the New England Patriots).
Williams and Daniels both have been starters since Week 1 and have thrown nine touchdowns. Maye, who has started since Week 6, has seven touchdowns.