Kirk Herbstreit Catches Heat for Criticism of Bears QB Caleb Williams

Kirk Herbstreit, Caleb Williams Getty Images (2)

Thursday Night Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit used the Thursday, December 26 slog between the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks to question the leadership of Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams — which left plenty of viewers at home puzzled. 

Herbstreit, 55, was on the call for the game Thursday night, a sloppy affair that saw the Seahawks emerge victorious by a final score of 6-3 at Chicago’s Soldier Field. 

During the third quarter, Herbstreit turned his attention to Williams, 23, who the Bears selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

“I think the thing that remains to be seen — and only time will tell — is if he understands what it takes to be an NFL quarterback as far as the preparation, as far as first guy there, last guy to leave,” Herbstreit pondered to broadcast partner Al Michaels. 

Herbstreit then explained he had no real reason for questioning anything about Williams and his integrity inside the Bears facility. 

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“I’m not suggesting he’s not doing those things,” he continued, “but just all of the little things that really make the great quarterbacks special.”

The comments made by Herbstreit did not sit well with many on social media, especially Bears fans. 

One wrote via X, “Kirk Herbstreit suggested that it’s still uncertain whether Caleb Williams can handle the preparation and be the first one in and the last one out type of guy. Then he noted that he hasn’t heard anything to suggest Williams isn’t that type of player. So why bring it up at all?”

Another said of Herbstreit, “Why would you suggest he’s not putting in the time, unless you have an idea if he is or he isn’t?”

“Kirk Herbstreit has so obviously done 0 prep work on the Bears and Caleb’s season so far,” one viewer deduced. 

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It has been a rough season for Williams and the Bears, who lost their 10th game in a row on Thursday night, dropping them to 4-12, the second-worst record in the NFC. 

Williams finished the game against the Seahawks 16-for-28 for 122 yards and one interception. As the clock ran out, the quarterback and his teammates were booed off the field in their final home appearance of the season. 

“It’s my first year. Their frustrations go way longer back than I’ve been here,” Williams told reporters after the game. “My job is to go out there and win games, and, you know, we don’t focus on outside noise.”

He continued, “Fans are going to cheer and maybe boo sometimes, and you can’t react to that. It’s not something that we react to. We have a job to do.”

The Bears close out the season on Sunday, January in Green Bay against the Packers.