As Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams prepares for his second season in the NFL, he has faced plenty of controversy. Being a former No. 1 overall pick, Williams has enough to live up to as is.
But then there was a bombshell report about Williams not even wanting to play for the Bears from ESPN's Seth Wickersham. All offseason, his play has been under a microscope as he adapts to life under new head coach Ben Johnson.
Every aspect of Williams' game, along with his words, has been heavily examined. To some, the scrutiny sent the quarterback's way may be a bit overwhelming. That's exactly how Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown feels. Despite being NFC North rivals, St. Brown came to Williams' defense over any social media hate directed toward the quarterback, via the "St. Brown Podcast."
"No matter what he does good or bad, I swear he can't breathe," St. Brown said. "He takes one step wrong, it's 'Caleb did this, this, this.' I feel bad sometimes."
#Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown says #Bears QB Caleb Williams gets unfairly hated on social media:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 3, 2025
“I swear he can’t breathe. … I feel bad sometimes.”
Much respect to Amon-Ra for saying this...
(via @StBrownPodcast) pic.twitter.com/1pwEh6OBB1
Williams set Bears rookie records for passing yards (3,541) and touchdowns (20). However, he was largely overshadowed by the second-overall pick Jayden Daniels, who led the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. During the 2025 season, Chicago and the NFL world at large are looking for Williams to live up to his pre-draft hype.
The Bears have certainly bought in, spending all offseason and building their offense around him. Hiring Johnson was the first step. He is considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL and helped St. Brown ascend to stardom with the Detroit Lions. The head coach-quarterback pairing will be crucial for any Chicago success.
As a rookie, Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times. So, the Bears traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson before signing center Drew Dalman in free agency. All three should help keep Williams upright in the pocket and overall give him a much more formidable blocking scheme.
When he drops back to pass, Williams will have a litany of talented pass catchers to throw to. Rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III are joining an already strong trio of D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet. If Johnson can find a way to put all the pieces together, the Bears will be a tough passing attack to beat weekly.
But that's only if Williams holds his end of the bargain. All of Chicago's eggs have been placed in his basket, which is partially why the quarterback gets so much flak. But if Williams leads the Bears to success in 2025, St. Brown won't be the only one singing his praises by the end of the season.
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