The Chicago Bears have one of the game's best and brightest young quarterbacks in the game in emerging star Caleb Williams, but social media would have you believe that the Bears are the biggest fools in the world for believing the former USC Heisman winner will take that next step.
Based on how Williams is discussed, it can be easy to forget he had three times as many touchdowns as interceptions in his rookie season on a terrible Bears team that blew up their roster this offseason. Despite that, every move he makes on a football field is taken apart and analyzed in the way most destructive to him.
Even some of his hated division rivals, like Detroit Lions star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, believe that the internet is going way too far overboard in their collective desire to see Williams struggle.
On his titular podcast, St. Brown said that he feels like Williams "can't breathe" on social media, lest the entire internet outside of the state of Illinois jump on him. St. Brown even said he "feel[s] bad sometimes" when he thinks about what Williams has to deal with.
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown says Caleb Williams is treated unfairly
Let's tally up the list of things Williams has done to make himself hateable. Can be a little brash? Sure, but that brashness would be celebrated if the Bears won games. He painted his nails in the past! Oh no! If anyone is hating on him for that, get a life.
Did Williams play so poorly that he is trending towards all-time bust territory? Absolutely not. With no help from a coaching staff that was almost entirely fired by season's end, Williams set a record for most consecutive passes without an interception by a rookie while throwing for just under 4,000 yards and 20 touchdowns.
No one has more of a reason to downplay Williams' accomplishments than a hated division rival like St. Brown, and even he can't seem to find a reason as to why Caleb has become the internet's favorite subject of mockery. Williams does seem subject to a higher degree of scrutiny than most young quarterbacks.
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The polarizing style is certain to follow Williams throughout his pro career, even if he starts putting up big numbers and winning more games. It appears as though players who strap on their helmets against Williams know that such criticism is unwarranted.