Former New York Jets scout Daniel Kelly has challenged the positive narrative surrounding Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. While Bears head coach Ben Johnson recently defended his quarterback against criticism—specifically responding to a jab from Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen—Kelly offered a starkly different assessment on Thursday. Kelly took to social media to label Williams as a prime candidate for regression in 2025, claiming the quarterback is becoming less accurate and that his throwing process is visibly slowing down.
The debate follows comments from Liam Coen, who had jokingly remarked that he could find 40 pictures of Williams on the NFL website before seeing anything related to Jacksonville. Ben Johnson pushed back on such narratives, emphasizing the tangible improvements Williams has made since being drafted first overall in 2024. Despite these internal endorsements, Kelly remains unconvinced, pointing to the quarterback's trajectory following his rookie campaign.
During his rookie season, Williams finished with 3,541 passing yards, a 62.5% completion rate, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions, while the team posted a 5-12 record. In the following season, he completed 58.1% of his passes for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, adding 388 rushing yards and three scores to secure the NFC North title. His postseason performance included a 31-27 Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers, though the Bears were eventually eliminated in a 20-17 overtime loss to the LA Rams in the divisional round.
As the franchise looks toward a consecutive playoff run, expectations for Williams remain high. The Bears are scheduled to play three preseason games ahead of the 2026 regular season: against the Cleveland Browns on August 15 at 1 p.m. ET, at the Cincinnati Bengals on August 22 at 7 p.m. ET, and at the Tennessee Titans on August 29 at 6 p.m. ET.
