Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson and QB Caleb Williams hit back at ESPN's Troy Aikman after 'lucky' win

Both Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams felt disrespected by ESPN's Troy Aikman after Monday's 25-24 win over the Washington Commanders.

The Bears blew an early 13-point lead in what many considered to be an ugly football game. But it was the commentary of the three-time Super Bowl champion that irked Johnson and Williams at the onset of Week 7.

'It sounded like from that game the other night, a few people weren't particularly pleased with how we are winning right now,' a smiling Johnson told ESPN radio in Chicago on Tuesday. 'I woke up this morning and my kids were watching the second half before school, so I heard some of the commentary.'

Johnson did not say precisely what bothered him ('maybe I just had it on mute') but did paint his team as the NFL's Rodney Dangerfield when asked about Aikman in a video press conference.

'Listen, you want respect in this league, you got to go earn it,' Johnson said. 'So, that's where we're at right now. We need to go earn that respect from not only the rest of the teams in the NFL, but everybody, so that's where we are.'

Quarterback Caleb Williams was more direct. In response to Aikman's claim that a 55-yard Bears scoring play was the product of a defensive breakdown and 'luck,' Williams showed his displeasure on Instagram.

'It was lucky,' Williams wrote, paraphrasing Aikman.

He then added: 'Whooptie Doo.'

Bears teammates certainly noticed, as rookie receiver Luther Burden III responded with an approving emoji.

However, Aikman's point may be getting lost in this discussion. 

The 58-year-old former Dallas Cowboys quarterback wasn't criticizing the Bears, but rather a defensive breakdown by the Commanders, who allowed Chicago running back D'Andre Swift to turn a four-yard pass into a 55-yard touchdown.

'It wasn't really so much intended to be a pick, but it turned into that just based on how it was defended,' Aikman said, pointing out that Bears receiver D.J. Moore took Washington safety Quan Martin out of the play by colliding with him on a crossing route. 'As open as [Swift] is, and then you make one guy miss, and then with his speed, he's off to the races. Just, um, luck on Chicago's part.'

Although neither Williams nor Johnson mentioned them, there were other Aikman comments that irritated Bears fans.

For instance, Aikman noted that several dropped passes may have been the result of poor throws by Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner at USC who has struggled to live up to expectations since being drafted first overall by the Bears in 2024.

When diminutive receiver Olamide Zaccheaus dropped a first-quarter pass, Aikman pointed the finger at Williams, saying: 'He's been off tonight.'

The comment came as Williams completed 6 of 8 passes for 56 yards on that drive.

Later, when Zaccheaus dropped a fourth-quarter pass, Aikman held the receiver accountable, but also said Williams' throw was off target.

'Everything is perfect except the catch,' Aikman said. 'It just gets up on him, it hits him high on his shoulder pads, the breast plate.'

Aikman also noted that another throw by Williams was late.

Obviously, Williams' performance came in a victory, so his performance can already be deemed a success. He did have 252 passing yards, albeit on just 17-of-29 passing. More importantly, Williams didn't turn the ball over, as his counterpart Jayden Daniels did, and Chicagoans appeared encouraged by his performance as the Bears improved to 3-2.

'Aikman was a true hater,' one fan wrote.

Another asked: 'What's your problem with the BEARS my man?'

'I think consistency is key, and five straight games like that is no fluke,' one Bears fan said of a resurgent Williams. 'He's clearly the real deal and proving all the doubters wrong with his arm talent.'