What Bears’ Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson said about Troy Aikman criticism
Caleb Williams responded to criticism from Troy Aikman during "Monday Night Football" broadcast of Bears clash with Commanders. The post What Bears’ Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson said about Troy Aikman criticism appeared first on Marquee Sports Network - Home of the Cubs, Bears, Red Stars and Sky.
Read more: What Bears’ Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson said about Troy Aikman criticism
Canales non-committal on who'll start at RB vs. Jets; Dowdle, Hubbard taking it all in stride
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle said he isn’t concerned about if he’ll start or who’ll see the bulk of the carries on Sunday against the New York Jets. Dowdle is coming off two career games in which he racked up 389 yards on the ground and 473 yards from scrimmage. Hubbard has been the team's starting running back the past two seasons.
Read more: Canales non-committal on who'll start at RB vs. Jets; Dowdle, Hubbard taking it all in stride
Caleb Williams chooses USC over Oklahoma when asked at press conference
![](/<p>LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Bears quarterback Caleb Williams <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPzhMf5D8wh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">created an Instagram post</a> chronicling his return to the D.C. area where he grew up. The carousel included several images of his hometown, of him playing in <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/chicago-bears-score-highlights-washington-commanders-nfl-week-6-results/" target="_blank">a 25-24 victory over the Commanders</a>, a random shot of Allen Iverson and funny picture of hero kicker Jake Moody.</p><p>The caption hit on a few things, but the second one stood out.</p><p>“It was lucky” – TA</p><p>TA stands for Troy Aikman. The hall-of-fame quarterback and “Monday Night Football” color analyst used that phrasing (somewhat) to describe D’Andre Swift’s 55-yard touchdown catch and run that turned the tide against Washington.</p><p><strong>[READ: <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/chicago-bears-mailbag-dandre-swift-ben-johnson-jeffrey-simmons-nfl-trade-deadline/" target="_blank">Bears mailbag: Can D’Andre Swift, Ben Johnson run game going?</a>]</strong></p><p>There were some other perceived slights on Aikman’s commentary that bothered Williams enough to post about it and then comment extensively on it during <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPsgW8429Y0" target="_blank">a Wednesday press conference</a> at Halas Hall.</p><p>“It’s fun. Fun trolls,” Williams said. “I was messing around. Yeah, D’Andre made a great play and obviously (Aikman) had some stuff to say about us or me and, I mean, we came out victorious in the end. Made a little fun moment of it. That was about it.”</p><figure><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I couldn't care less."<br><br>Caleb Williams addresses comments made during the Monday Night Football broadcast against the Commanders. <a href="https://t.co/xKVzNozl87">pic.twitter.com/xKVzNozl87</a></p>— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) <a href="https://twitter.com/WatchMarquee/status/1978545620315959406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote></div></figure><p>Head coach Ben Johnson didn’t say much about it in a Tuesday virtual press conference when asked if he heard Aikman’s commentary.</p><p>His response: “Maybe I had it on mute.”</p><p>Turns out Johnson didn’t.</p><p>“It sounded like from that game the other night, a few people weren’t particularly pleased with how we are winning right now,” Johnson told Jeff Joniak for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rNRLD0h9zI" target="_blank">an interview on ESPN 1000-AM in Chicago</a>. “I woke up this morning and my kids were watching the second half before school, so I heard some of the commentary. In this league, any way you can find a way to win is a big deal.”</p><p><strong>[READ: <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/chicago-bears-ben-johnson-dj-moore-health-update-commanders/" target="_blank">Ben Johnson provides health status update on DJ Moore</a>]</strong></p><p>Athletes and coaches can find motivation in just about anything, and this one certainly counts as fuel. That’s the case here, a point Williams freely admitted.</p><p>“I think you always kinda use those — When you’re in a competitive situation like Coach is or myself or other teammates, when people have stuff to say about you, whether it’s that week or a whole year or whatever the case may be, I think you do use it as a little bit of fuel, as a little bit of motivation,” the second-year quarterback said. “I think that’s always a part of it as a competitor. That goes along. But you don’t put too much into it to where it affects you negatively.”</p><p>There was something earlier in the week that added a wrinkle to this story. Williams said he missed a production meeting time with Aikman before the game. He tried to reach out to Aikman later and couldn’t connect up.</p><p><strong>[WATCH: <a href="https://watchmarquee.com/watch/msn_CMPA0341760564308391_marqueesportsnetwork.com_episode" target="_blank">Chicago Football Show previewing Week 7 clash with Saints</a>]</strong></p><p>“I did not. I did not. I didn’t get to meet with him,” Williams said. “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 and came out 3-2.”</p><p>That’s the bottom line for the Bears as they traverse <a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/schedule/" target="_blank">through the relatively early season</a>. They need to stack as many wins as possible. Johnson said Tuesday that’s how respect is earned in the NFL, and the Bears haven’t earned it yet. Williams also acknowledged that critics will show up no matter how a team plays on the field.</p><p>“I (couldn’t) care less,” Williams said. “… People are going to say what they have to say. We win, we lose, people have stuff to say. It was lucky, it was not lucky. People have stuff to say. Have a bad game, have a good game, people have stuff to say. It doesn’t matter. We’re only worried about what’s going on here within this building and with these guys. That’s all I can say about that.”</p><p><strong><em>Submit your questions below for inclusion in the next Bears mailbag!!</em></strong></p><div class="frm_forms with_frm_style frm_style_formidable-style"><div class="frm_form_fields "><fieldset><legend class="frm_screen_reader">Bair Mail</legend><div class="frm_fields_container"><div class="frm_form_field form-field frm_required_field form-group frm_top_container frm6 frm_first"><label for="field_b9ytx32" class="frm_primary_label col-form-label form-label">Name
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