ESPN announcer Joe Buck reveals Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams skipped two pregame Zoom meetings, intensifying speculation of a rift with analyst Troy Aikman during the 2025 NFL season.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, has drawn some scrutiny for missing scheduled pregame production meetings with ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast team, according to play-by-play announcer Joe Buck.
Buck disclosed that Williams failed to appear for Zoom calls ahead of two games this season, fueling speculation about tension between the rookie and color analyst Troy Aikman.
The incidents occurred before the Bears’ season opener against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 and their Week 6 matchup at the Washington Commanders, both aired on ESPN. Buck, speaking on the “SI Media With Jimmy Traina” podcast, emphasized that the network accommodated Williams’ schedule to make the remote meetings convenient.
“We understand you guys are busy. You’re preparing for a game. The last thing you probably want to do is talk to us,” Buck said. “It’s kind of part of the drill, but we will do it when it works for you, on your schedule.” Despite the flexibility, Buck added, “We sat on a Zoom waiting forever and he just never came! I don’t know what else we can do.”
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The revelations come amid a perceived rift between Williams and Aikman, a Hall of Fame quarterback and three-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys. During the Bears’ 25-24 victory over the Commanders in Week 6, Aikman described a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown by running back D’Andre Swift as “just luck on Chicago’s part.” Bears fans and some observers accused Aikman of bias against Williams, who threw for 252 yards and one touchdown in the game.
Williams later addressed the missed Week 6 meeting, saying he was at Halas Hall late and attempted to call Aikman the next day, but the call did not connect. “I was here late and the timing didn’t meet up, lifting or whatever the case may have been, tried to call him after the day I was supposed to meet with him and it didn’t get through,” Williams said. He also posted on social media after the game, captioning highlights with “‘It was lucky’ – TA,” in an apparent jab at Aikman.
Buck expressed frustration with Williams’ account, noting it implied the broadcast team was at fault. “That’s the part that bothered me the most…this was on your guys’ schedule,” he said. “And we had it happen twice within the first six or seven weeks…I thought the intimation that we weren’t there or [Aikman] wasn’t there was not an accurate description of how that all went down.”
Aikman has pushed back against claims of bias, and Buck defended his partner’s commentary during the Commanders game, saying, “Troy was great.” The missed meetings may have contributed to any lingering tension, though neither side has escalated the issue further publicly.
Williams has shown improvement in his second NFL season, helping the Bears climb toward playoff contention with reduced sacks and a much more efficient offense than what was on display during his rookie year. The Bears face their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers, on Saturday in a key matchup.
Neither Caleb Williams nor the Bears has issued a direct response to Buck’s recent comments.