Sports Media

Merril Hoge Thinks Caleb Williams Sucks

Trey Daubert / NFL, NFL Draft, Videos / February 10, 2024

Merril Hoge Thinks Caleb Williams Sucks

Some people are comparing Caleb Williams to Patrick Mahomes. The USC quarterback doesn’t even like the comps but they’re at least logical given the potential that Williams has. With Williams likely on his way to Chicago, former Steelers and Bears running back Merril Hoge was not shy about giving his opinion. He essentially said Williams sucks and isn’t anything special.

“The one thing that is clear: he is not special,” Hoge said in that interview with NBC Sports Chicago. “He is not something unique like a Patrick Mahomes. And I hope the Bears don’t think,’ ‘Let’s try to make up for our mistake when we passed up Patrick Mahomes and go get the [next] Patrick Mahomes. This kid is not Patrick Mahomes. He ain’t even remotely close to that.”

Hoge believes that Chicago should roll with Justin Fields long term.

“I think it’s unfair to Justin Fields,” Hoge said. “He’s had a new coordinator, new coordinator, new coordinator. There’s no possible way you could know about your guy when you do that. It’s the worst thing that can happen to any player, especially a quarterback.

“Now, when Justin came out, the one thing I had thought he had was he just had inexperience; He just ended more experience; he lacked that,” added Hoge. “But what I have seen in Justin Fields — from my evaluation — there is enough growth and tape there that I would not let him go because I see enough there.”

For the record, I don’t think there is even a discussion on what the Bears should do. I shared my thoughts on that not too long ago. You can read that here.