Caleb Williams is giving former NFL defenders a pretty good reason to appreciate retirement. The throws are difficult enough to deal with. The confidence that comes with them only makes the assignment more annoying.

The Chicago Bears quarterback earned an enthusiastic review during a recent Gridiron discussion, with Aqib Talib offering a three-word assessment that Bears fans will gladly take.

Aqib Talib Gives Caleb Williams His Approval

“He [Caleb Williams] cold, bro,”Talib said during the discussion.

The episode featured former cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones alongside Talib and Skip Bayless, with Williams’ performance against the New England Patriots as one of the subjects. Chicago’s quarterback gave them plenty to work with.

In the shared clip, the praise included a recollection of Williams picking apart Tennessee during practice. His ability to deliver throws from different platforms stood out, along with the confidence to attempt them.

The conversation also made its inevitable stop at Williams’ fingernails. “I like everything about him bro. Like, besides the nail paint,” went one assessment in theGridiron exchange.

That aside, there was an acknowledgment that Williams had a purpose in painting his nails and that the explanation deserved more attention. The discussion quickly returned to football, particularly the way he interacted with his teammates.

A play involving Luther Burden III drew special attention. In the panel’s account, Burden celebrated after believing he had scored, but after he was ruled down short of the end zone, Williams challenged him to get back to the line with the clock still running.

That detail helps explain the enthusiasm. A quarterback demanding more after a successful play sets a different standard from someone satisfied simply to move the chains. The former players clearly liked the competitive edge they were seeing.

Williams Gives Chicago Bears More Reasons to Believe

The Bears improved to 5-2 with their 30-24 victory over New England on Thursday night, ending the Patriots’ three-game winning streak. Williams completed 22 of 33 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns.

His performance produced a 116.7 passer rating, according to Chicago’s official game highlights. That is a substantial evening’s work against a team that arrived with momentum of its own.

Williams also ties for fourth in the currentPFN’s NFL Quarterback Impact rankings, with an 83.9 grade across his four appearances this season. The table lists a 71.0% completion rate and five passing touchdowns against one interception.

His confidence has carried into the postgame conversations, too. Williams’exchange with Richard Sherman after the Patriots win showed he was paying attention to how Chicago was being discussed.

The Gridiron conversation captured why former players are warming to him. The arm gives Chicago explosive potential, while his response to Burden suggests he expects teammates to squeeze every last bit out of those opportunities.

For the Bears, that is an encouraging combination. Williams can enjoy a big completion and still demand that his offense stay locked in. Defensive backs probably preferred him a little less comfortable.