Caleb Williams' comments on Kevin O'Connell seem to shade Sam Darnold

The Chicago Bears fall to 4-7 on the season as the team loses their fifth straight game. All of this while the rest of the NFC North comes away with wins. Chicago now has a less than 1% chance at making the playoffs in 2024. Basically, it's now time to start planning for the future.

I am on record that I want Chicago to give Matt Eberflus the Lions game on a short week and then allow Thomas Brown to show what he can do as the head coach over the final five games. We have seen a different offense and a different Caleb Williams over these last two games. I think it's safe to say that Shane Waldron shouldn't have been the offensive coordinator, but luckily the Bears brought Brown in as a coach. Despite back-to-back losses within the division, this is the best the offense and Caleb Williams have looked this season.

Williams went on to throw for over 300 yards in this game. He completed 68% of his passes and threw two touchdowns. Williams set the Bears' rookie passing record for yards and is one passing touchdown away from setting the Bears' rookie passing touchdown record too.

After the game, Kevin O'Connell had plenty to say to Caleb Williams. Williams was asked about what O'Connell had to say...

"His message was to keep going. Hell of a player, keep going, way to fight. Sucks that he has to against me for a while. "

- Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears QB

Caleb Williams went on his press conference to speak highly of Kevin O'Connell. He has known him for a little while now and has a direct connection to him through his former USC teammate, Jordan Addison.

"When you get a guy like him...you know, his offense and his guys love him. I have a few old teammates over there and they talk about him. They love him. I met him at the draft. When somebody comes over to you who has guys, Sam Darnold even, out there balling. He has been a great coach out there I believe, and those encouraging words are important."

- Caleb Williams

I'm not sure if Caleb Williams meant this as a slight toward Sam Darnold, but that's exactly what it was. Williams was praising Kevin O'Connell, something I have done already, but that part about Darnold sticks out. Adding the word, even, to the sentence says that O'Connell is the main reason Darnold has seen success this season. Williams isn't wrong, but it still stood out to me and I am sure others noticed it too.

Darnold also had a great game. He completed 65% of his passes while throwing for 330 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Let's be honest, O'Connell is a mastermind and it doesn't hurt that Darnold has some elite-level talent around him. Chicago Bears fans should not be thrilled that O'Connell and Eberflus were hired in the same offseason. The Bears have struggled with loss after loss while O'Connell has helped quarterbacks, even Sam Darnold, achieve greatness.