Caleb Williams is playing under the second offensive coordinator of his rookie season against the Green Bay Packers.
The Chicago Bears scored just 27 points across a run of three defeats to slide to 4-5.
Head Matt Eberflus decided enough was enough and sent Shane Waldron packing.
The former Seattle Seahawks coordinator, who worked wonders with Geno Smith, will be replaced by passing game boss Thomas Brown.
Williams has struggled behind a porous offensive line and Chicago’s scheme has been questioned.
But he earned plaudits for taking his share of responsibility in a remarkable display of maturity for a young QB.
Fox Sports analyst Jay Glazer revealed how the rookie had won over his teammates in the wake of Waldron’s dismissal.
“Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams actually got up in a team meeting after OC Shane Waldron was fired and APOLOGIZED for his part in the offense stalling enough where Waldron was fired,” he posted on X.
“Teammates were very impressed by the accountability and his decision to do that.”
Iconic passer Tom Brady does not expect Brown’s appointment to signal a major shift.
And he says the onus is on Williams, who was sacked nine times by the New England Patriots, to adapt.
“It’s not like you’re gonna make a lot of sweeping changes,” he told Fox Sports.
“I think you’re looking for minor improvements at this point.
“When you fire the coordinator, he’s gonna bring in his own style, he’s got a few little plays he’ll add here and there, a few wrinkles.
“But I wouldn’t say it’s a huge positive for this team. I would like to see Caleb get the ball out quicker.
“He’s doing a good job of protecting the ball but help the offensive line a little bit by getting the ball out of his hands.”
Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden says the Bears need to rally around their young signal-caller.
“It’s getting late to do that. We’re at the ten-week point of the season,” he told Pardon My Take.
“The big thing you do is have a private meeting with the guys you deem to be your leaders.
“The defensive leadership, the offensive leadership. The eight or nine Chicago Bears that you’re really saying, ‘This is the heart and soul of our football team.’
“You say, ‘We’re gonna get behind this quarterback and we gotta spread this news downstairs and publicly. We gotta make this guy a great player, he is gonna be a great player unless we screw this up.’”
Gruden believes Williams has all the tools to be successful but is being let down by his supporting cast on a team lacking identity.
“Let’s be honest, you’ve had a lot of guys come through here but this guy’s a unique talent,” he added.
“He needs support. He needs it the most from his coach and the blue chip leaders we have on this team.
“I don’t know what kind of leadership they have on this football team, Jaquan Brisker’s hurt, they got as bunch of guys from different teams.
“D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, everybody’s the No1 receiver, [D’Andre] Swift is a new player.
“They’re all searching for an identity. But they better figure it out, ‘This is our guy right here, we gotta get him to hand the ball off to Swift, play good defense, win a couple of ugly games.’
“The weather‘s getting s*****, you gotta get excited about Caleb Williams and keep putting your arm around this guy and challenging him and helping him get through it.”
