Overview

• Peyton Manning, via The Athletic, criticized Chicago for drafting a quarterback without a clear plan and pointed to the instability Williams faced in his first year.
• New head coach Ben Johnson publicly set a 70% completion target for Williams and cautioned that the quarterback will not be a finished product in Year 2.
• Former Bears great Dan Hampton called Williams’ preseason sideline attire disrespectful on the Hamp & O’B podcast, echoing broader critiques about leadership and image.
• Williams’ rookie season produced 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions with a 62.5% completion rate, and he was sacked 68 times as the Bears went 5–12.
• Williams described his first year as a needed reset while Chicago added offensive help in the offseason, leaving proof of progress to the regular-season opener against the Vikings on Sept. 8.