Caleb Williams Responds to Troy Aikman’s Criticism After Bears Win

UPDATE: Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has issued a spirited response to recent comments made by ESPN broadcaster and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. Following the Bears’ narrow 25-24 victory over the Washington Commanders on October 16, 2023, Williams took to Instagram to share a playful post that references Aikman’s critique.

In his post, shared just hours after the game, Williams included a series of photos with the caption, “Nations Cap good being back! ‘It was lucky’ – TA ‘Whooptie Doo’” accompanied by laughing emojis. This came after many fans felt Aikman was excessively critical of Williams during the Monday Night Football broadcast, particularly about a 55-yard touchdown pass he threw to running back D’Andre Swift, which Aikman labeled as “lucky.”

Williams addressed the situation at Halas Hall on Wednesday, stating, “It’s fun. Fun trolls. I was messing around. We came out victorious in the end. Made a little fun moment of it.” His comments reflect a light-hearted approach despite the tension surrounding Aikman’s remarks. The rookie quarterback completed 58.6% of his passes for 252 yards, netting one touchdown without any interceptions during the game.

Amid the scrutiny, Williams expressed indifference to the criticism, stating, “I couldn’t care less. Life isn’t fair. People are going to say what they have to say.” This reinforces his focus on the team and their performance rather than external opinions.

“You want respect in this league, you got to go earn it,”

said Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who also commented on Aikman’s critique in a humorous vein, noting that “a few people weren’t particularly pleased with how we are winning right now.” Johnson emphasized the need for the Bears to earn respect through their gameplay.

The Bears are now preparing to host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field, and the team is looking to build on their recent momentum after two dramatic last-minute victories. Williams and his teammates are determined to focus on improving their performance, as linebacker T.J. Edwards stated, “We’ve done a really good job of kind of blocking all that stuff out and going out there and prove it on Sunday.”

As the Bears gear up for their next challenge, all eyes will be on whether Williams can continue to silence critics and lead his team to further success. With the stakes high, fans are eager to see how this developing narrative unfolds on the field.