Despite Caleb Williams’ “Hollywood” Lifestyle, Shannon Sharpe Gives Him “Benefit of the Doubt” to Shut Down Jaylon Johnson

Driving through the streets of Hollywood in your Ferrari can never go wrong, right? Well, when you’re Caleb Williams, it does. Spending two years in California backfired for Williams ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, earning him the nickname “Hollywood” in his prospective team, the Chicago Bears. The Bears are simple guys, blue-collar, grind-it-out stars as they are. But looking at the glamor (and the $10 million he made through NIL deals at USC, per The Athletic) might have impacted Caleb Williams’ identity as “Hollywood‘ for the Bears.

All this prompted Jaylon Johnson to make a condition to the to-be starting QB of the team, Williams, to prove himself. Before Justin Fields’ trade on the Up & Adams Show, Johnson made this statement, which set the internet ablaze overnight. Football experts across the town are picking their sides, and Shannon Sharpe did as well.

On the latest episode of NightCap, Shannon Sharpe decided to stand up for Williams. “You got to give the man the benefit of the doubt until he shows you otherwise,” Sharpe said. If he doesn’t, then the team members have the right to blast Williams, saying, “Hey that there in Hollywood that what you do what you did at USC that they gonna cut it.” 

His co-host, Ocho Cinco, concluded that Johnson could not deliver properly with his expectation: wanting to bring out the best of potential in Caleb Williams. However, having had many banters with Shannon Sharpe, Cinco knew how to convey the point. “If I was Jaylon Johnson. If I was goddamn Kean Allen or a receiver on that goddamn team, oh man, I’m hyped. Because I understand what I got on the team, that’s getting ready to lead us. We talk about an immense talent. We talk about a generational talent,” Cinco went on and on praising the Trojans QB, highlighting the importance of Williams if the Bears pick him in their first pick, which Johnson wholeheartedly agreed with.

Jaylon Johnson on Caleb Williams

Although Johnson’s initial words may have given the impression that he was being too strict with Williams, his later words explained his true intentions behind his uptight behavior. Johnson and his team want Williams to turn out “the best he can be,” so they are not afraid to use some of their trash talk if needed.

READ MORE: Caleb Williams Slapped With Harsh Reality of NFL After Jaylon Johnson Urges USC QB to Prove Himself

The team needs Williams to win games, not for the Hollywood stuff, which Johnson seems to have developed a strong negative association with. Per him, the team is “trying to learn and get to know him and then knowing from there what pushes him.” With the addition of Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift to the roster, Caleb Willims’ transition is expected to be much smoother, especially with considerable teammates like Jaylon Johnson ready to welcome him. How do you think Caleb Williams will fit in with the Bears?

READ MORE: Caleb Williams’ Draft Stocks Take a Hit After NBA Legend’s Unpopular Take on Shedeur Sanders