C.J. Stroud challenges Caleb Williams with hard-hitting advice for year two leap

Caleb Williams opened his rookie campaign with a solid 4-2 record in the 2024 season, but the momentum didn’t last. The Chicago Bears went on to lose 10 consecutive games before ending the year with a victory over the Green Bay Packers. Now, as Williams prepares for his second season under center, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has offered some key guidance to help the young quarterback grow and handle the road ahead.

At the “Franchise Faces” panel during Fanatics Fest, Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud, and Bryce Young shared the stage with NFL legends Eli and Peyton Manning. When asked to offer advice to Williams, the Texans quarterback shared insights drawn from his own rapid rise in the league.

“I don’t know if Caleb likes my advice,” the Texans quarterback quipped. “Teams prepare more. They know what you are good at. They try to just cut that off. It’s like playing basketball. If you find out a guy can’t go left, they’re going to force you left.”

“So, whatever your weaknesses are, whatever you’ve put on tape and film, that’s what defensive coordinators are watching every single day, and they’re just trying to find twists and schemes,” he continued.

Caleb Williams and the Bears

The Bears struggled so much last season that they made a historic move by firing Matt Eberflus mid-year — the first time in franchise history a head coach was dismissed during the season. Caleb Williams’ performance fluctuated during the year, and the mid-season shakeup on the coaching staff played a role in that inconsistency.

Williams ended the season with 3,541 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, but efficiency was a major issue. He ranked 28th in the league with a 46.7 QBR and took a league-worst 68 sacks, highlighting the protection and decision-making struggles that plagued the Bears’ offense.

Stroud offered a crucial piece of advice to the former No. 1 pick: “The main thing is they want you to extend plays every time. If you learn how to just sit in the pocket, and when it’s not down like we’re playing in the shell league, it’s cover four cover two cover six cover five, all these different two high coverages, if it’s not there bro, just get it out of your hand,” he said.

Williams is expected to take a major step forward this season, and the Bears are counting on him to lead the team to a breakthrough after years of frustration. Whether he takes Stroud’s advice still remains to be seen.