Potential Caleb Williams-Troy Aikman beef won't be the first of its kind

Why did ESPN analyst Troy Aikman continually rip Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in Week 6 of "Monday Night Football?"

During Chicago's 25-24 win over the Washington Commanders, Aikman attributed some of Williams' big plays to "luck," including a 55-yard touchdown pass to running back D'Andre Swift. He also questioned the QB's accuracy after he finished 17-of-29 passing for 252 yards and one TD.

On Wednesday, Williams revealed he missed a pregame meeting with the former Dallas Cowboys QB ahead of "MNF." Perhaps that explains why he kept nitpicking his performance.

Caleb Williams explains why he missed a meeting with Troy Aikman ahead of 'MNF' 

"I didn't get to meet with [Aikman]," Williams told the media. "Tried to meet with him. Reached out and tried to meet and that didn't happen. Moved on from it, went and played the game, came out 3-2."

When asked why he missed the meeting with Aikman, Williams said it was because of a scheduling conflict.

"I was here (at Halas Hall) late and times didn't meet up, lifting, or whatever the case may have been," Williams said. "Tried to call him after that, I was supposed to meet him and didn't get through."

This isn't the first time Williams has missed the "MNF" crew this season. In a story published Wednesday, ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported that Williams didn't participate in the pregame meeting ahead of their Week 1 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, a move considered "rare." 

Aikman has yet to respond to Williams' comments or the report. Whatever happened, this could be an important footnote in what could be a potential beef between the Bears star and the Pro Football Hall of Famer. It wouldn't be the first of its kind. 

Potential Caleb Williams-Troy Aikman feud is similar to another between Super Bowl-winning QBs

The tiff between Aikman and Williams may remind fans of the one between former Pittsburgh Steelers star Terry Bradshaw and Denver Broncos standout John Elway. 

Before being traded to the Broncos, Elway spurned the Baltimore Colts (now in Indianapolis) after they selected him with pick No. 1 in the 1983 NFL Draft. He said he would quit football and play for the New York Yankees instead. New York selected the two-sport star out of Stanford in the second round of the 1981 MLB Draft, and he played in the minor leagues for the club in 1982.

Four-time Super Bowl winner Bradshaw subsequently called out Elway for bucking the system.  

"He's the kind of guy you don't win championships with," Bradshaw said at the time (h/t KKFN-FM's Andrew Mason).

Elway hoisted two Lombardi Trophies with Denver during the 1997 and 1998 seasons, but Bradshaw (now with Fox) remained a critic throughout his career. Before Super Bowl XXIV between the Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers, the then-CBS analyst said Elway was more focused on "promoting himself than winning Super Bowls" and had been "babied" by coaches and the media (via the Associated Press).  

"He can stick it in his ear," Elway said in response to Bradshaw.

Now, Williams and Aikman haven't reached that point. But things could be simmering between the two, especially after the Bears QB appeared to poke fun at the three-time Super Bowl winner in an Instagram post Tuesday.