Caleb Williams is gearing up for his third NFL season, but the Chicago Bears quarterback unexpectedly found himself at the center of comments from Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen. While this continues to be a hot discussion in the NFL, former New England Patriots Super Bowl champion Jason McCourty has stepped in to back the Jaguars coach.
Jason McCourty Reveals the Real Meaning Behind Liam Coen’s Caleb Williams Comments
Both the Jaguars and the Bears reached the playoffs last season, with Chicago advancing further in the postseason. Meanwhile, Coen believes his team has plenty of motivation because it continues to be overlooked by the national media.
To make his point, Coen pulled up the NFL’s website on his phone and joked that he could see “40 pictures” of Bears quarterback Caleb Williams but none featuring himself or the Jaguars. Despite Jacksonville finishing the regular season with a 13-4 record, Coen feels his team isn’t getting the recognition it deserves.
While Coen’s comment about Williams outraged many Bears fans, McCourty argued that the Jaguars HC’s comments were being taken out of context.
“Love this from Liam Coen! He’s not taking a shot at Caleb at all,” McCourty wrote on X. “His team won 13 games in his first year, and no one is picking them to win the division or as AFC contenders! He’s talking to his team with this message!”
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Using a perceived lack of respect as motivation is hardly uncommon in the NFL, as many coaches and players embrace the underdog mentality to keep their teams hungry. Coen seems to be embracing that mindset as Jacksonville prepares for the upcoming season.
However, Williams rightly deserves the headlines after his breakout season in 2025, recording 3,942 passing yards. He also threw for 27 touchdowns with only 7 interceptions, finishing the season with a 74.9 PFN QB Impact grade, ranking 20th in the league.
Williams has reportedly shed between 10 and 15 pounds ahead of the 2026 season and has impressed throughout training camp by consistently finding success against Chicago’s defense. His strong offseason has only added to expectations that he could take another step forward this year.
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Meanwhile, Bears head coach Ben Johnson also responded to Coen name-dropping his quarterback.
“Well, we’re the No. 1 regression candidate, so I think we’ve got plenty of motivation ourselves,” Johnson said. “We’ve talked about Caleb in the past. He’s used to handling a lot of attention, so I’m not worried about that.”
The two teams will have a chance to settle the conversation on the field when Chicago hosts Jacksonville on December 6.
Williams already owns a win over the Jaguars, leading the Bears to a 35-16 win during his rookie season in 2024. He completed an impressive performance with 226 passing yards and 4 touchdowns in that lone career meeting. He has continued to develop since then, making the upcoming game even more interesting.
