Bears fans believe Caleb Williams took dig at CJ Stroud with latest post

The quarterback rivalry between Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams and CJ Stroud is heating up ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

The tension traces back to Week 2 of the 2024 season. The Houston Texans beat the Bears 19-13 on Sunday Night Football. After the game, a mic’d-up Stroud pulled Williams aside and offered the rookie unsolicited advice.

Williams’ body language said it all. The moment went viral immediately. Williams recently reposted a TikTok referencing the handshake moment. Bears fans wasted no time reading it as a subtle dig at Stroud.

The beef stretches back even further. Before the 2024 NFL Draft, Stroud was asked whether the Bears should keep Justin Fields or draft Williams.

“They should keep Justin if they are smart, but you know,” he replied.

Bears fans took it as shade thrown directly at Williams and the organization. It appears that Williams has clearly not forgotten.

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“Bears QB Caleb Williams didn’t hold back how he feels about C.J. Stroud in his latest TikTok repost. He made it pretty clear. Love it! THAT’S MY QUARTERBACK. ” a comment on Instagram read.

“Iceman sooo cold BEARDOWN!!!!” a user wrote.

“Caleb so petty and I love it ” said another.

“As a bears fan let’s not dish on cj we aren’t that franchise we’re use to being the underdogs let just continue to be humble it’s got us this far,” suggested a viewer.

“here we go with ts fake beef again,” a reaction read.

Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams Is Winning the CJ Stroud Rivalry

The numbers tell the story. Since that handshake moment in 2024, Williams has outplayed Stroud at every turn. Across his first two seasons, Williams threw for 7,483 yards and 47 touchdowns. He added 388 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in 2025 alone. He engineered seven fourth-quarter comebacks last season.

The 24-year-old led the Bears to an 11-6 record, the NFC North title and a playoff win over Green Bay.

Stroud’s trajectory has gone the other direction. The 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year has posted back-to-back disappointing seasons.

In 2025 he threw for just 3,041 yards with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions across 14 games. A Week 9 concussion cost him three starts. He was on pace for 30-plus touchdowns before the injury.

Chicago Bears must follow Texans' DJ Stroud blueprint — Texans’ CJ Stroud drops back to pass.

Stroud enters 2026 in a make-or-break year. The Texans picked up his fifth-year option through 2027 but have not offered a long-term extension.

Meanwhile, Williams enters Year 3 with a chip on his shoulder and a growing list of receipts. With no scheduled matchup between the Bears and Texans in 2026, the quarterback rivalry plays out online for now.