The Chicago Bears are 7-2 and first in the NFC North, but an ESPN radio host’s faith in Caleb Williams as a playoff quarterback is getting a cold reception from fans.

Fans pointed to his turnovers and to the attention he draws. Williams threw four interceptions in Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He threw five across two playoff games last season.

Fans Weigh Evan Cohen’s Praise For Caleb Williams Against His Interceptions

Sunday’s game started well for Williams. His first-quarter touchdown passes to Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III built a 14-0 lead at Soldier Field. All four interceptions came over the next two quarters, and he finished 22 of 37 for 279 yards with a 61.5 passer rating.

During a segment on ESPN’s “First Take,” Evan Cohen picked his most trusted NFC North quarterback for the playoffs: “Even though Jared Goff is the one who’s been there and done that, even though we have a quarterback in Jordan Love who is probably playing better than anyone else right now, and we have a quarterback that is unbelievably experienced in Kirk Cousins, I just think Caleb Williams has got IT factor, and I believe in his coach and his connection with his coach…”

“I will trust Caleb Williams in a big spot, and yes, we’re coming off of a four-turnover game for him, five for the team, but that actually makes me more impressed. They still won,” Cohen added.

The Bears turned it over five times in all. After Tampa Bay tied it at 24 with 2:51 left, Williams answered with an eight-play, 49-yard drive that ended with Cairo Santos’ 38-yard field goal on the final play.

Even with the win, Cohen’s confidence in Williams drew plenty of pushback. Fans focused less on the late drive and more on the four interceptions, questioning whether a quarterback with that kind of turnover performance should be trusted in a playoff setting.

One fan put the question directly: “Caleb Williams becoming the most overrated QB in the league?”

Before Sunday, the Bears quarterback had thrown one interception all season. Pro Football Network’s NFL QB Impact Grade has Williams at 81.9 through Sunday’s Week 9 game, ranked seventh of 35 graded quarterbacks.

On the postgame podium after his four-interception night, Williams said, “I’m going to throw until I can’t throw anymore.” Bears coach Ben Johnson addressed the interceptions on Monday. “The four interceptions, there are a couple where [he] didn’t see the coverage quite as well as we would’ve liked.”

Another fan answered Cohen directly: “I think you meant he’s got that ‘INT’ factor Evan.”

For another fan, the postseason was the point: “The guy who threw 5 interceptions in 2 playoff games last year. Got it. Great take.”

Williams threw two interceptions in a 31-27 playoff-opening win over the Green Bay Packers in January. He threw three more in a 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the next round.

Williams also made plays late in both games. The Bears trailed the Packers 21-3 at halftime, and his 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore put them ahead for good with 1:43 left.

Against the Rams, his 14-yard touchdown pass to Cole Kmet tied it with 18 seconds left in regulation, but Kam Curl intercepted him in overtime, and Harrison Mevis’ 42-yard field goal ended the Bears’ season.

Other Fans Aim at the National Attention Williams Receives

One fan tied that Rams loss to a broader complaint about the attention Williams gets: “I [have] never seen a QB with this much media hype & PR, especially after that last playoff performance, but yeah, carry on, man.”

“Caleb gotta have the best PR in the entire league, man,” another fan wrote.

The Packers came up when one fan widened the complaint to the whole team: “More glazing from the national media on Caleb Williams and the Bears. The national media hates the Packers. Never seen a team more propped up by the national media that has not earned it yet.”

@FirstTake @EvCoRadio more glazing from the national media on Caleb Williams and the Bears. The national media hates the Packers. Never seen a team more propped up by the national media that has not earned it yet

— SupTho (@Golffball1721) November 12, 2026

The Packers, a game behind the Bears at 6-3, visit Soldier Field on Christmas Day.

Before then, Chicago will come out of its Week 10 bye to host the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 22, giving Williams another chance to strengthen his case as a quarterback the Bears can trust in bigger games.