Few NFL players are under a microscope quite like Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. The No. 1 overall pick, face of a long-suffering franchise, and an already polarizing figure before he threw a pass in the league, Williams enters the 2025 season not just as a quarterback, but as a litmus test for the patience (or lack thereof) of NFL discourse. Some are even saying the Panic Meter should be ‘high for week 1’. Ridiculous.

From highlight reels to hot takes, this summer’s coverage of Williams’ training camp has been nothing short of chaotic. Depending on the source, he’s either the next superstar or a cause for panic. And somehow, both can be true on the same day.

The Net Drill Nonsense

Let’s start with the now-infamous net drill discourse.

In a widely circulated clip, Colin Cowherd used footage of Williams missing stationary net targets during warm-ups to question his accuracy, composure, and focus, all while omitting the context that he later dominated 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s that same day.

On the flip side, former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel broke down the same drill. He praised Williams, highlighting that he actually hit more than he missed, and emphasized the timing and footwork improvements Williams was demonstrating.

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If there’s ever been a clearer example of the NFL media choosing the narrative before the analysis, this was it.

Dan Orlovsky’s Pressure Rankings: Really?

Adding fuel to the fire, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky recently ranked Caleb Williams as the quarterback under the most pressure heading into the 2025 season.

Let’s sit with that for a second: a second-year quarterback, still mastering a new offensive system, on a team that just finished a full-scale overhaul with a first-time head coach, is apparently under more pressure than:

Trevor Lawrence, who is entering year four with a stacked supporting cast and a playoff mandate,

Justin Herbert, now on his third head coach, has a massive contract and is coming off an abysmal playoff performance

Tua Tagovailoa, whose future in Miami has been in question every offseason since he was drafted.

Williams isn’t even eligible for a contract extension, yet he’s expected to carry more weight than quarterbacks with playoff losses, Super Bowl aspirations, and top-5 defenses?

It’s a baffling standard that ignores reality: this is a growing year, not a referendum.

Caleb’s Response: Coachable, Confident, Honest

To his credit, Williams has handled the storm with humility and perspective.

In an interview with the NFL Network, he acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the NFL and Ben Johnson’s offense:

“There’s a lot to learn, and I’m learning every day,” Williams said. “But I love this game, and I love being coached. I’m excited to keep improving.”

That echoed what Johnson himself has been saying throughout camp, that Williams is extremely coachable, detail-oriented, and fully bought into the system. It’s not perfect yet, nor should it be, but the proper foundation is being laid.

Much of the Caleb Williams discourse seems to come down to this: people who liked him before still like him, and those who doubted him continue to reach for reasons to stay skeptical.

As Louis Riddick told Rich Eisen in a recent interview, the narrative around Williams often has less to do with football and more to do with perception. If you didn’t like Caleb’s confidence, fashion, or social media presence before, every incompletion validates your doubt. If you saw the elite arm talent and poise at USC, you see camp as a natural step in his growth.

Bottom Line: Just Win

Until Caleb Williams starts stacking wins, the noise won’t stop. The critics will keep clipping net drill misses. The defenders will keep quoting practice stats and advanced metrics.

What can’t be debated, though, is that Williams already broke nearly every Bears rookie quarterback record last season, and did it behind a shaky offensive line, in a system designed for someone else, while under enormous public scrutiny.

Now, with a rebuilt offense, a legitimate play-caller in Ben Johnson, and another full offseason as QB1, the path is clear: learn the system, build chemistry, and start winning games.

Because in the NFL, wins are the only metric that silences doubt, and for Caleb Williams, that’s the one storyline he still has complete control over.

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