ESPN commentator and NFL Hall of Famer, Troy Aikman, expressed surprise at the backlash he received regarding his comments on Bears quarterback, Caleb Williams. His remarks stemmed from the Bears’ recent matchup against the Commanders. During the broadcast, Aikman characterized a significant 55-yard touchdown pass from Williams to running back D’Andre Swift as partly “luck,” criticizing Williams’ accuracy overall.
Troy Aikman’s Comments on Caleb Williams
Following the game, which the Bears won 25-24, Williams and head coach Ben Johnson responded critically to Aikman’s assessment. Williams acknowledged that some criticism was justified but took issue with Aikman’s scrutiny. He humorously addressed it on Instagram, indicating he would use the critique as motivation.
Key Game Details
- Game: Bears vs. Commanders
- Outcome: Bears won 25-24
- Williams’ Performance: 17 completions on 29 attempts, 252 yards, 1 touchdown, passer rating of 98.6
Aikman later mentioned on a Dallas radio station, The Ticket, that he was unsure why the criticism emerged. He stated, “People are motivated for different reasons. It’s part of the job, but it’s not something that I really lose much sleep over.” Aikman clarified that he admires Williams and appreciates his playing style.
Bears’ Performance Insights
This season, the Bears have recorded a total of 15 takeaways in their last four games, marking their highest total in a four-game span in 14 years. This figure represents the most takeaways achieved in the NFL since the Denver Broncos did so two years ago. However, Williams has not met the performance standards set by coach Johnson, who aimed for a 70% completion rate. Williams has trended downward in his last three outings.
Interestingly, Aikman and Williams did not connect before the game, which is atypical for their roles. Williams indicated that their schedules conflicted even though he attempted to reach Aikman by phone following a practice. Additionally, the Bears will not appear on ESPN for the remainder of the current season.
