Even before getting drafted by the Chicago Bears, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has been forced to deal with a lot of smack talk on social media and on the field.
That's what comes with being a high-profile athlete with a unique personality that others might not be a fan of.
The unfortunate reality for Williams is that it's only going to get worse before it gets better as he adapts to life in the NFL. The good news is, he now has a whole room full of new teammates who will have his back.
Entering into his rookie season, Williams is set to face tons of pressure and will be getting loads of smack talk thrown his way from opposing teams and their fanbase. The season hasn't even started and he's already having to deal with it.
While appearing on the Rich Eisen Show last week , Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (who's well known for his trash talk around the league) was asked about his upcoming Week 1 game against Williams and the Bears and didn't hold back.
"Painted nails. I can't wait to say that to him," Simmons said . "Most definitely. Oh, it's gonna be one of them games. I mean, he probably gets smack-talked by his teammates right now, but especially a game like that. My first game, of course I missed the last end of the season. ... It's gonna be the first game of the season. They've got us coming to Chicago. All the hype's gonna be around them... That also makes me talk even more smack and boost me up a little more, get into a different mode, as well. I'll be in a different mode that game."
Simmons' comments were the first of many opposing comments that will come Williams way looking to shake up the young quarterback. Following Simmons' appearance, Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds went on the CHGO Bears Podcast and stood up for his new quarterback by giving him some much-needed advice.
"My little bit of advice would just be, you gotta be where your feet are. You can't worry about external things because that's not going to add value to our football team," Edmunds said via CHGO Bears on X . "Worrying about what somebody's typing about you, worrying about what this person is saying or what that person is saying, it's not adding value to our football team. What's adding value is the work that you put in...
"It really comes down to just blocking out all that noise and just doing your part. Football is unique man, it's all 11 guys working together to complete one mission. When you think that way... it makes your job a lot easier. It's just about focusing on yourself and pour into your cup."
Even though Edmunds and the rest of the team's defense are teammates with Williams, it's also their job to help Williams prepare for this type of stuff happening on the field. During OTAs and minicamp, the Bears defense was extremely vocal when facing the Williams-led offense during team drills, something that will help get Williams used to playing against more smack talk by the time the season rolls around.
“I do think that defenses that are good are annoying, they do get under your skin a little bit because of the execution and the talking afterward and all of that," head coach Matt Eberflus explained . "And we allow guys to be themselves. We have our standards and we understand that we are always going to be respectful of each other when we are out there going against each other and they do that.”
While Williams continues to handle all the trash talk thrown his way, either from his own teammates to help prepare him or from upcoming opponents, he's also been getting his fair share of praises as well.
Even Simmons considered Williams to be a hell of a player and Williams got even more praise from a player you'd least expect. Also appearing on the Rich Eisen Show , Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary noted that he hopes to give Williams is "welcome to the NFL moment" but then praised his abilities on the field as well.
The pressure and smack talk will continue to come Williams' way and it's up to him to shut everyone up with his play on the field while following Edmunds' advice to keep blocking out all the noise surrounding him heading into the season.
Related: Titans Jeffery Simmons 'can’t wait' to trash talk Bears QB Caleb Williams about pre-draft controversy
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