Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb William says he is ready to take the blame for Thursday's 6-3 loss after taking seven sacks and throwing a game-ending interception against the Seattle Seahawks.

"We played on two sides of the ball today pretty well, special teams and defense, and then offense we didn't play well," Williams said after the game (45-minute mark of the video below.) "There was miscues. There was stupid sacks that I was taking, losing 10, 14 yards, which is frustrating.

"I will say that I'll definitely take the heat for this one, just 'cause of some situations that I put us in. Like I said, that sack that I took, that I didn't need to take, which put us—we were empty, and I brought a guy from the boundary. Just throw it over the guy's head and you're still playing."

Williams concluded: "I didn't play well enough. I didn't put the team in a good position to win, in a better position to win, and that's what it is."

Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky analyzed Williams' seven sacks after the loss, identifying two of the hits as the quarterback's responsibility and three as the result of exposure from the offensive line.

Williams also threw an interception with less than 15 seconds left after the Bears struggled with clock mismanagement on their final drive.

Interim head coach Thomas Brown, who did not call a timeout as time ran out on the final drive, also took responsibility for the loss after the game.

"The offense was not good enough, which it starts with me as far as the game plan that I had coming into this game, having those guys ready to go," Brown said (h/t the Seahawks' official transcript.)

The coach added: "I wasn't good enough. Put it on me."

Williams has now taken 67 sacks in his second NFL campaign, marking the fourth-highest single-season total ever recorded by a quarterback.

That also sets a single-season franchise record for the Bears, exceeding the 66 sacks made on four quarterbacks in 2004.

Brown can't be sure he'll be leading the team next season after watching his team lose a tenth straight game on Thursday.

But if there's one thing he and the Bears can focus on in Sunday's season finale against the Green Bay Packers, it's making sure Williams doesn't come anywhere close to matching Derek Carr's single-season record of 76 sacks.

The Chicago Bears struggled mightily throughout a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.

With the Bears attempting to convert on fourth down while looking to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, Caleb Williams was pressured into a lofty throw that was intercepted by Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen.

Williams finished 16-of-28 for 122 yards, getting sacked seven times. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft has now been sacked at least seven times in four separate games throughout his rookie season.

The loss represented the Bears' 10th consecutive defeat, tying a franchise record.

Chicago's offense as a whole struggled to gain traction in rainy conditions, recording just 179 total yards and averaging a mere 3.1 yards per play. The Bears converted five of 15 opportunities on third down.

The Seahawks were only able to muster six points to go along with 265 total yards, but they held a three-point halftime lead and were able to maintain it throughout the duration of the contest.

Fans called out Chicago's sluggish performance.

The loss dropped the Bears to 4-11 on the season, now owning the second-worst record among all NFC teams.

Chicago will attempt to avoid losing a franchise-record 11th consecutive game to close out the regular season against the Green Bay Packers in Week 18.

Pete Carroll's next destination could be the Windy City.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported during the Amazon Prime broadcast of Thursday Night Football that the Bears and Carroll have mutual interest and that a conversation between the two could be happening soon.

"Pete Carroll has interest in the Bears job, but that's not the only one he is looking at," Breer said. "I'm told that he has informed all of the teams with openings that he is looking to get back into coaching in 2025. Additionally, I am told that the Bears are interested in sitting down and having a conversation with Carroll about their opening."

Carroll spent 2009-2023 with the Seattle Seahawks and compiled a 137-89-1 record while leading the team to two Super Bowl appearances and one victory. The 73-year-old is currently serving as an advisor to the Seahawks.

Chicago is currently 4-11 and fired head coach Matt Eberflus following a Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions. Despite the poor record, Chicago has a solid roster with the crown jewel being 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams.

Chicago has not reached the postseason since 2020 and has not won a playoff game since 2010. Carroll's proven playoff experience could help the team reach new heights and maximize Williams' potential.

Breer reported that Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Mike Vrabel, Kliff Kingsbury, Brian Flores and interim head coach Thomas Brown are all candidates for the job as well.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson appears to be a candidate for the Chicago Bears head coaching vacancy.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Johnson is "in play" for the Bears opening and that he "has interest" in the job.

"I think he has interest in the job," Schefter said. "There's enough there that he's going to at least have interest in talking with them and seeing whether or not it's worth pursuing. I'm sure they're gonna request to interview him and I'm sure that he's gonna talk to them and then it's up to the two side to figure out if there is a match there."

Johnson has been with the Lions since 2019 and has been the offensive coordinator since 2022. He has helped lead a potent Lions offense that has led the team to a 9-8 record in 2022, a 12-5 record in 2023 and a 13-2 start to the 2024 season.

He has helped revitalize quarterback Jared Goff's career and also utilized the team's numerous offensive weapons effectively. That could be an intriguing trait for Chicago, who has some star talent but has been unable to capitalize on it in 2024.

The Bears are 4-11 and have lost nine consecutive games heading into Week 17. This comes despite the presence of 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams at quarterback and a deep receiver room consisting of D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and 2024 first-round pick Rome Odunze.

Chicago fired head coach Matt Eberflus following a Thanksgiving loss to the Lions and will likely look to make a splash with the next head coaching hire. Johnson's success with the Lions could make him a prime candidate and the talent on the Bears roster could be enough to pull him away from Detroit.

Former USC and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has reportedly "expressed interest" in the Chicago Bears head-coaching vacancy and "would like to return to the sideline next season," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Carroll, 73, last coached Seattle in the 2023 NFL season, leading the team to a 9-8-1 mark. He was replaced last offseason by Mike Macdonald.

Per Schefter, "In recent weeks, Carroll has begun discussing a return in the NFL and now is interested in doing it. He has not yet spoken with any teams yet, per sources, but he would welcome that chance."

The Bears are of particular interest to Carroll, according to that report, because of the presence of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

The current vacancies around the NFL include the Bears, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, though more are likely to follow.

Carroll's long NFL career included stints with the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1997-99) as head coach before he took over at USC in 1998, leading the Trojans to a national title.

In 2010 he returned to the NFL with the Seahawks, leading the team to a 137-89-1 record in 14 seasons alongside 10 playoff berths, two trips to the Super Bowl and a title.

Caroll was known as a culture-builder during his time at USC and Seattle, and his success spoke for itself. There may be some questions around the NFL regarding his age, however, especially after the 72-year-old Bill Belichick took over as North Carolina's head football coach, ostensibly because interest wasn't super high around the NFL. Belichick only interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons ahead of the 2024 season.

Carroll embraced his one-year hiatus, telling 93.9 KJR in August that he was in the physical shape required to return to the NFL sidelines but wasn't "desiring" a return. That clearly has changed.

Despite a loss to the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams impressed NFL fans with more than 300 passing yards in Sunday's 34-17 home defeat.

Williams holds the longest active streak in the NFL, with over 300 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. In addition, Williams has accumulated 3,271 total yards this season, ranking him in Chicago's top ten for most passing yards in a single season and the first Bears rookie to surpass 3,000 yards, per Bill Zimmerman of Audacy Sports.

The Bears couldn't secure a win to complement Williams' performance on Sunday, falling to 4-11 as the Lions improved to 13-2. Williams completed 26-of-40 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns but also had two fumbles, one of which was lost.

The Lions delivered another dominant performance as they bounced back from last week's 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Jared Goff had a stellar outing, completing 23-of-32 passes for 336 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Williams was the true standout of Sunday, with his remarkable performance and continued climb in Bears history earning him widespread praise across social media:

Sunday showcased a classic performance from Detroit as they pulled away from the Eagles, maintaining their first-place position in the NFC and solidifying their dominance after clinching a playoff berth.

The Lions controlled the first quarter, with kicker Jake Bates opening the scoring with a successful 30-yard field goal. Jahmyr Gibbs added seven points with a one-yard rushing touchdown just over five minutes before the quarter's end, extending the lead to 10-0. Bates followed up with another field goal, giving Detroit a commanding 13-0 advantage heading into the second quarter.

Jameson Williams kicked off the second quarter with an electrifying 82-yard touchdown reception from Jared Goff, extending the Lions' lead to a commanding 20-0 and leaving Bears fans deflated. However, hope flickered for Chicago when Cole Kmet hauled in a one-yard touchdown pass from Williams to get the Bears on the board.

The final minute before halftime was action-packed. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Goff, pushing Detroit's lead to 27-7 and seemingly putting the game out of reach. Yet, the Bears responded quickly, with Keenan Allen snagging a 45-yard touchdown pass from Williams with just 39 seconds left, narrowing the deficit to 27-14 at halftime.

Out of halftime, Sam LaPorta found the end zone for the Lions with a decisive touchdown, while the Bears continued to struggle offensively for the remainder of the game. Bears kicker Cairo Santos managed to add a 30-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, bringing Chicago's total to 17 points.

The fourth quarter lacked the fireworks of earlier periods, as both teams went scoreless, allowing the Lions to comfortably secure the victory. Detroit excelled in key areas, particularly on first-down conversions, tallying 27 compared to the Bears' 19.

The Bears will look to snap their nine-game losing streak when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday at home.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to be one of the hottest candidates on the coaching market this offseason, and he may have eyes for the vacancy in Chicago.

"My understanding is Johnson is intrigued by the Bears' job and he is going to be willing to listen," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Sunday. "There's a lot to like in Chicago with Caleb Williams, tons of cap space, extra draft resources, also a major market."

Of all the current upcoming vacancies, which include the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Bears, Chicago's is easily the most ideal for coaching candidates. While other vacancies could come open—the Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants all feel like very real possiblilties, and other organizations could make changes as well—the presence of Williams in Chicago alone makes them intriguing.

He's not alone, of course—there are offensive playmakers in D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze and D'Andre Swift, while the defense has been solid—but having a young quarterback with a huge ceiling already on the roster makes life easier for an incoming head coach.

More than a few coaching candidates will likely have interest in the gig, with Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury previously linked to the opening.

But it's particularly exciting to envision what Johnson could draw up for Williams and the Bears. The Detroit offensive coordinator is one of the most creative and aggressive play-callers in football, routinely employing a number of trick plays throughout a game. How many teams have run a single hook-and-ladder in the past decade?

The Lions, meanwhile, have run several this season alone. And in the process, Detroit leads the NFL in scoring (32.8 PPG) and is second in yardage (403.9 YPG).

Excellent coordinators don't always translate as head coaches, of course. While coordinators can focus primarily on strategy and scheme, head coaches are like CEOs, running the entire operation while needing to understand where to delegate, how to appoint the right staff, etc. And Johnson eschewed head-coaching interest last season to remain in Detroit—if the Lions don't win the Super Bowl this season, it's possible he could do so again.

He does sound interested in making the leap at some point, however.

"I'd say this: I think there's a burning desire in every man to find what he's made out of, push the limits and see if he's got what it takes," he told reporters this past week. "So, yeah, there's a fire there. Now, when that time is, I don't know when that'll be, but there's certainly a fire there."

There's no doubt that Johnson would add a layer of creativity to Chicago's offense and improve upon the rather stale scheme the team employed during the Matt Eberflus era. Chicago and Johnson, at least for the time being, feel like a solid match.

Kliff Kingsbury could get another shot at head coaching after one season of directing the Washington Commanders' offense.

NFL insiders "fully expect" the Chicago Bears to interview Kingsbury for their head coaching position following the midseason firing of Matt Eberflus, Jeremy Fowler reported for ESPN.

Kingsbury worked as a senior offensive analyst for USC during Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' final college season.

"I loved being around him. Tremendous person," Kingsbury said about working with Williams following his hire in D.C.

That connection, as well as the "quarterback cachet" he earned while coaching Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals from 2019 to 2022, is expected to earn Kingsbury the interview in Chicago, according to Fowler.

Kingsbury also coached Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield during his tenure as head coach at Texas Tech, and has worked with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in Washington.

Williams has struggled while exposed by a porous offensive line during his rookie season with the Bears. He took his 58th sack of the season during Monday's Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, which also marked the Bears' eighth straight defeat.

The rookie quarterback told reporters after the loss that taking that number of hits through 14 games was taking a toll on him.

"Say you get in three car accidents in a month, you're going to feel it," Williams said after the loss to the Vikings, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "That's what a hit is in football... you take those over an amount of time and it builds up."

The Bears' current offensive situation isn't sustainable. Given that interim head coach Thomas Brown hasn't been able to turn around the losing streak, Chicago may look outside the organization to help build a stronger situation around Williams for his second NFL season.

The Commanders hired Kingsbury as offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season. He has a history of his offenses in both Arizona and Texas Tech declining in the back half of their seasons but could work to shake off that reputation with three games remaining and a potential playoff berth on the line in D.C.

If Kingsbury is able to help the Commanders reach the postseason in Daniels' first NFL season, he could further boost his candidacy for the opening in Chicago.

Caleb Williams shares the frustration Chicago Bears fans have had with the 2024 season, but he also believes there have been some positives to takeaway from his first 14 games in the NFL.

Speaking to reporters after Monday's 30-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Williams expressed his feelings about the "frustrating" and "encouraging" season for the Bears so far:

"It's been frustrating and encouraging. I would say the frustrating part is obviously we're on a -- how many games now, eight?—yeah, eight-game losing streak. Like I've said before, it's new to me. I haven't experienced anything like this. That's the frustrating part. The encouraging part is how much we fight as a team.

"The encouraging part is us as a team ... being able to go through all of what's happened this year. Me not playing well at the beginning of the season and feeling like I was seeing it well and then being able to find ways to keep growing, keep progressing through those times that I was frustrated. Coaches getting fired and all of this stuff going on, 4-10 right now. Being able to wake up, be consistent, do that every day with how it's been going is encouraging for me. It's encouraging for this team and we've got to keep going. It's been encouraging but also frustrating for myself."

There's been plen that has happened with the Bears just in the past few weeks to make it feel like this season has lasted multiple years.

Amid criticism of the offensive play-calling, then-head coach Matt Eberflus fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Nov. 10. The move came just 10 months after Waldron was hired for the job.

The Bears lost their next three games after Waldron's firing, with two losses directly related to poor time management by Eberflus. They settled for a 46-yard field-goal attempt that was blocked as time expired in a 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers rather than try to push the ball forward after getting to Green Bay's 30-yard line with 35 seconds remaining.

On Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions, the Bears only ran one play in the final 30 seconds despite having one timeout to use. They never even got to try a field goal that would have tied the score, instead taking a 23-20 loss.

The Athletic's Adam Jahns and Dianna Russini reported Bears players were "furious" and "pissed" about the late-game management in the loss to Detroit. Eberflus was fired on Nov. 29.

All of this came in a season that began with so much optimism, largely driven by Williams being the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft and the fact that he was surrounded by a stellar supporting cast featuring Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and DJ Moore.

Yet just eight months later, the Bears will be conducting a search for a new head coach, trying to find a quick fix for an offensive line that can't block anyone and are still trying to end their losing streak that now stands at eight games.

If the Bears don't win another game this season, they will set a franchise record for the longest single-season losing streak in franchise history. Their longest losing streak overall is 14 games split between the final 10 games of the 2022 season and first four games of the 2023 season.

Williams has shown flashes of the promise that made him the top pick in the 2024 draft. He has thrown for 2,937 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions, while running for 408 yards on 67 attempts.