Caleb Williams: Bears Coaching Changes in Rookie Year 'Steppingstone of Development'

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has endured a difficult start to his rookie year, which has included the team firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Nov. 12 before letting go of head coach Matt Eberflus last Friday.

However, the No. 1 overall draft pick is taking it all in stride as he looks to further his development.

"I think this is a steppingstone of development, to be able to have all of this in my first year," Williams told ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

"I wouldn't say that I'm happy for it. Having these moments is definitely something that will help me in the future. Having these situational moments that it's hard to rep in practice, having some of these moments, having your coach fired or coaches fired, and people being promoted. You know, things like that all happening within a couple weeks of each other, you know I think it would help me in the long run being able to handle all of this, handle this first year and being able to grow from it."

The Bears' coaching turmoil has gone down amid the team's six-game losing streak, which began with the team giving up a game-ending Hail Mary touchdown to the Washington Commanders and continued on Thanksgiving after the infamous time-management catastrophe that ended up being the final moment of Eberflus' coaching career in Chicago.

It's been a tough time for the Bears and the Williams, who has had an up-and-down rookie season, as many first-year players do.

But to his credit, Williams has fared well in his last three games, throwing for 827 yards and five touchdowns (no interceptions) while rushing for 142 more yards.

That solid stretch notably coincided with Thomas Brown being promoted from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator. Now the 38-year-old is the Bears' interim head coach for the season's final five games.

Williams has dealt with changing voices in leadership, but it's possible that Brown sticks around. Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Brown will get a "real look" at the permanent head coaching gig this offseason. One NFL executive also told Cronin that Brown is the "real deal."

That evaluation will certainly include the Bears' final five-game stretch, which begins Sunday at the San Francisco 49ers.