Few people understand better than Troy Aikman what Caleb Williams is going through in 2024. During his call for the Monday Night Football game between Williams’ Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15, Aikman had some words of encouragement and concern about Williams.

Early in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game, the Bears kicked a field goal. On the previous play, Williams bought time by scrambling around before launching a risky pass into the end zone. While throwing the ball (resulting in an incomplete pass), Williams blocked a hard shot from Minnesota’s Jihad Ward. If the Monday Night Football When the show returned from commercial, the cameras showed Williams on the sidelines. Play-by-play man Joe Buck noted that Williams “told us he was healthy but tired.”

“This is the time of year when the college season comes to an end,” Aikman said. “So they’ve been long years. And if you have the same year as them, they are even longer. What are you worried about, Joe, for a young quarterback – and I’ve been through it. As a starter I was 0-11. And you know, he had a much better rookie season than I did.”

For Williams and the Bears, those words can inspire optimism for the future.

Aikman was selected first overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. His first year was miserable, as the Cowboys went 1-15 and, as Aikman noted, he went 0-11 as a starter. But after a few years the situation changed. Aikman helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories as a quarterback and had a Hall of Fame career. So while Williams and the Bears are struggling, we saw a No. 1 pick become a legend after struggling mightily as a rookie. If Williams is superior to Aikman as a rookie, there is reason to believe the future can be bright.

Troy Aikman on a tough night and season for Caleb Williams.

“I was 0-11 as a starter and he had a much better rookie season than I did.”

“He grimaced and was in tremendous pain. When you watch him, you realize he’s a defeated guy.” pic.twitter.com/Vv91cKVm9F

– Awful Announcement (@awfulanncreasing) December 17, 2024

Of course, things can get even better for Williams. However, Aikman also expressed concern about the challenges facing the Chicago rookie.

“When you mentioned that we were watching him on the sideline, he was grimacing and in tremendous pain,” Aikman added. “And when I watch him, you can tell he’s a defeated guy. I mentioned that he had never experienced anything like this at any point in his career. What you worry about is a rookie quarterback losing confidence.”

What probably makes this season worse mentally for Williams and the Bears is that there have been early signs of significant progress. It wasn’t always pretty, but Chicago started the season 4-2 and was just one play away from 5-2. But a miraculous Hail Mary gave the Washington Commanders a stunning win over the Bears in Week 8, and Chicago hasn’t gotten back on track since. The loss to Washington was the first of an eight-game losing streak for the Bears. And while there were some close calls, most of the losses were decisive.

While Williams may be a step ahead of Aikman at this point in his career, he also has significant obstacles to overcome.

(Photo credit: ABC)