Alan Williams Was Upset About Justin Fields’ Post-Game Apology
Alan Williams has seen a lot of football in his NFL career. That has come with interacting with many different quarterbacks. He was there with the Colts when Peyton Manning ran the show. He endured the Christian Ponder years in Minnesota, watched Matthew Stafford in Detroit, and the final years of Andrew Luck. The longtime coach has a firm grasp on how top quarterbacks are supposed to carry themselves. That is why the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator was upset listening to Justin Fields’ apology in the locker room after the tough loss to Atlanta.
It wasn’t for the reasons you think. He wasn’t upset that Fields threw the game-ending interception. That was more bad luck than anything else. His issue is that the young quarterback felt the need to apologize at all. Williams has watched Fields mature into an exciting player over the past two months. This was done with talent but also relentless hard work. Nobody puts in more time trying to get better than Fields. Everybody in the locker room knew that which is why they shut him down before he could finish.
They knew he was the main reason Chicago was even in that game. He had nothing to apologize for. It was a team loss.
Alan Williams’ statement reflects Fields’ image in the locker room.
Everybody loves him. He has emerged as the unquestioned leader of this team, and guys are ready to go to war for him. They see the sacrifices he’s making. No spare minute is wasted. It’s all working out, practicing, and studying film. Never mind the hits he continues to take, putting a lot of wear and tear on his body. For him to do all that and still feel responsible enough to apologize shows his remarkable maturity. Another reason guys were sad about the moment was out of guilt.
After all, the defense gave up a six-minute drive, and the go-ahead field goal after Fields tied the game midway through the 4th quarter. Alan Williams knows his unit missed a golden opportunity to seize a victory in that sequence. Instead, they put the pressure back on Fields with under two minutes left. That is not good complementary football. It kills guys on the defense that they haven’t been able to help. They’ve allowed 27 or more points in four consecutive games. Hearing the QB apologize only reinforced how much pressure he felt to carry the team on his back. That isn’t a fun thought for competitors. Williams knows it too.