When the game between the Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears concluded in Week 6, the talk should have been the impressive last-second win by Chicago, but instead was all about what happened in the broadcast booth.
ESPN NFL commentator Troy Aikman took a ton of heat for his comments on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ fourth quarter touchdown and calling it “lucky.” This resulted in Bears head coach Ben Johnson and Williams each making public comments about it, and stories emerging that Williams did not get a chance to meet Aikman before the game for the pre-production meeting.
When speaking with Front Office Sports, Aikman finally addressed the situation in public for the first time. Without being asked about the Chicago situation, Aikman brought it up himself and discussed what happened, adding a small challenge to it.
“Being in Chicago and with the Caleb [Williams] situation: when you do live television for 25 years, there’s bound to be times when you say something, and you’re like, ‘I wish I could take that back,’ or ‘I wish I could say, could have said that a little differently,’ or in the moment you say something, you’re like, ‘That didn’t quite come out right.’
“That game was not one of those. I walked out of that game feeling like ‘O.K., it was a game that came down to the wire.’ It’s fun, whatever. On Tuesday evening I had dinner and I got home and I was just kind of looking at my Instagram, and all of a sudden Ben Johnson comes up and it’s got Troy Aikman written on there. And I’m like, ‘What is this?’ First time I heard about it. So I don’t know exactly where that came from. I didn’t go back and watch the broadcast, but I would challenge anyone to go watch it and tell me that any analysis that I gave was unfair. I mean, they may disagree if I thought that was maybe not great ball placement, and they thought it was. O.K., but I’m not sure where it came from.”
To address the “lucky” comment directly, remember that Williams made the decision to throw it to D’Andre Swift. Yes, Swift is the one who ultimately scored, but Williams shouldn’t get penalized for making the best decision. That’s his job.
It has not been a perfect season for Williams, as he has faced plenty of criticism for his accuracy. He’s currently barely over 60% on his completion percentage and finds himself behind where he was in his rookie season last year.
With that being said, something Aikman refuses to acknowledge is how clutch Williams is in the fourth quarter. Williams has led four comeback wins with game-winning scores. Not many quarterbacks even do that in a career, let alone a season.
Read more: Overlooked Bears assistant coach has caught the curious attention of Ben Johnson
It’s clear Aikman is not the biggest fan of Williams, and Bears fans should be okay with that. Ultimately, Williams is a winner, and that’s all that matters in the end.
The New Orleans Saints are finalizing preparations for the stretch of the 2025 season, with roster moves settling in and young players carving out their first real roles. But away from the practice field, one surprising off-field decision has drawn national attention.
As the franchise locks in its 53-man roster, focus should be squarely on football. Yet, the personal lives of rookies often become intertwined with the spotlight, especially when outside distractions collide with the demands of the NFL.
This week, a first-year Saint made a headline-grabbing decision unrelated to football. For him, staying in New Orleans’ long-term plans meant not only competing on the field, but also managing the pressures of celebrity attention off it.
That rookie is running back Audric Estimé, who recently secured a spot on the Saints’ 53-man roster after being elevated from the practice squad. Shortly after that milestone, he ended his relationship with a well-known social media celebrity, an online star with millions of followers and a massive global audience.
The influencer built her brand through music, lifestyle content and viral posts that turned her into one of the most recognizable young digital personalities. Her reach and visibility inevitably brought heightened scrutiny onto Estimé as he adjusted to life in the NFL and tried to solidify his role in New Orleans.
The rookie explained his choice candidly in a private conversation that has since circulated among team circles:
“Right now, I need to focus on building my career with the Saints. There were too many cameras, too many eyes on my life off the field. I need peace, I need focus – if not, I will lose my chance and get left behind in New Orleans.”
Fans immediately reacted across X and Instagram, some applauding Estimé for putting football first, others sympathizing with his former girlfriend and questioning the pressure placed on young players to sacrifice their personal lives. The split fueled debate over the challenges rookies face in balancing relationships with the ruthless demands of professional sports.
For Audric Estimé, cracking the 53-man roster is only the beginning. By cutting ties with distractions and the glare of social media celebrity culture, the rookie signaled that his priority is clear: proving himself in the Saints’ backfield and earning trust in New Orleans for years to come.