Bears GM Defends Caleb Williams After Viral Video of Shaky Practice

As the Chicago Bears prepare for the 2025 NFL season, the team's quarterback Caleb Williams has faced some early challenges during training camp. A viral video showing Williams missing several checkdown passes has sparked concern among fans, but the Bears' GM Ryan Poles is taking a measured approach.

Poles acknowledges that Williams is still adjusting to the team's new offensive scheme under coordinator Ben Johnson. "I think as a human being, I want it to happen super fast, and I would love for it to look really clean and for [Williams] to look like a fifth-year vet right now," Poles said. "But I think, just being in this long enough, what's reality, though? It's going to take time. It's new."

The Bears made several offseason moves in the hopes of accelerating Williams' growth, including hiring Johnson and making roster changes. However, Poles cautions that it's normal for defenses to have an advantage early in training camp, which could contribute to Williams' struggles.

Despite the viral video, Poles remains optimistic about Williams' future. "I actually think it's pretty cool," he said about the public's response. "I knew there was a bad practice. I've seen clips on Twitter. I didn't know it was a national crisis of Caleb struggling."

As the Bears continue to work through the early stages of training camp, Poles and the team are confident that Williams will eventually find his footing and deliver a strong sophomore season in 2025.