ESPN footage sparks online reaction to Williams’ anthem moment
Caleb Williams’ absence from the Bears’ Monday night matchup drew attention for more than his hamstring injury after ESPN footage showed him moving along the sideline during the national anthem. The moment quickly sparked discussion among NFL fans online, with reactions ranging from criticism to questions about what viewers saw.
Williams did not play in Chicago’s 27-7 victory over Philadelphia, while Case Keenum led the offense. The incident added another layer of attention to a game Chicago won without its starting quarterback.
The incident happened before Monday night football
The moment occurred before the Bears hosted the Eagles at Soldier Field on September 28, 2026. The game was nationally televised on ESPN and ABC as part of Monday Night Football.
Williams attended the game despite being ruled out as a player. He watched from the sideline while Chicago prepared to face Philadelphia without its starting quarterback.
Williams was sidelined by a hamstring injury
Williams was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury during Chicago’s September 20 loss to Minnesota. The Bears confirmed he was unable to practice during the week leading into the Philadelphia game.
Reports on September 27 said Williams had a Grade 2 hamstring strain and was expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks. He was already ruled out for Monday night’s matchup against Philadelphia.
Case Keenum started at quarterback
With Williams unavailable, veteran quarterback Case Keenum started against Philadelphia for Chicago. Backup Tyson Bagent had recently cleared the league’s concussion protocol and served as the team’s No. 2 quarterback.
Keenum entered the game with his previous NFL regular-season appearance coming in 2023. The Bears ultimately won 27-7, giving Keenum his first regular-season victory with Chicago.
A mariachi group performed the anthem
Mariachi Herencia de México performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Bears-Eagles matchup. The performance was part of the Bears’ annual Latino Heritage Month celebration.
The Chicago-based group performed at Soldier Field before kickoff. ESPN also posted footage of the performance, which showed the mariachi ensemble presenting the national anthem before the nationally televised game.
Williams was shown walking on the sideline
During the anthem, broadcast footage showed Williams walking along the Bears sideline while other people nearby appeared stationary. He was wearing street clothes because he was not active for the game.
Reports describing the footage said Williams moved between teammates and staff members during the performance. The broadcast images became the basis for subsequent online discussion about his conduct.
Some fans criticized what they saw
After the broadcast, some NFL fans posted criticism of Williams’ actions on social media. Their comments focused specifically on his movement during the national anthem rather than his football performance that evening.
Posts shared after the game questioned why Williams was walking while the anthem played. Other users similarly criticized his decision to remain in motion during the performance.
Federal law outlines anthem conduct
Federal law provides guidance concerning conduct during the national anthem when the American flag is displayed. Under 36 U.S. Code §301, civilians should face the flag, stand at attention and place the right hand over the heart.
The law also addresses situations when the flag is not displayed. In that circumstance, people should face toward the music and follow the same general conduct.
Interesting fact: Across Oklahoma and USC, Williams started 33 of 37 games and threw for 9,782 yards and 93 touchdowns, while also rushing for 966 yards and 27 scores.
The law distinguishes civilians and military personnel
The federal statute sets different procedures for people in uniform and civilians during the anthem. Military personnel in uniform should give the military salute, while eligible veterans and service members not in uniform may also use that salute.
Other people present should face the flag and stand at attention when it is displayed. The statute therefore establishes separate forms of conduct depending on status.
Interesting fact: Caleb Williams created the Caleb Cares Foundation.
The criticism centered on movement
The online criticism involving Williams centered on his visible movement during the anthem. Several social media users specifically compared his actions with the stationary posture displayed by other people on the sideline.
Reports did not establish why Williams was walking during the performance. Williams’ visible actions can be described from the broadcast footage, but his personal reason for moving has not been established in the available reporting.
Williams did not play in the game
Williams remained on the sideline throughout Chicago’s matchup with Philadelphia because of his hamstring injury. His absence ended a streak in which he had started every Bears regular-season and playoff game since entering the NFL.
Chicago selected Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Before the Eagles game, he had started 36 regular-season games and two playoff games.
The Bears won without Williams
While Williams watched from the sideline, Keenum led Chicago to a 27-7 victory over Philadelphia. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for another score.
The Bears’ defense produced three takeaways and held Philadelphia to seven points. The victory moved Chicago to 2-1, while Philadelphia dropped to 2-1 after entering the matchup undefeated.
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The incident remains separate from the injury
The national anthem footage and Williams’ hamstring injury were two separate developments surrounding the same Monday night game. His injury led to his in-game inactivity, while the broadcast footage sparked discussion about his conduct before kickoff.
The Bears have not publicly stated that the anthem footage affected Williams’ playing status. His absence was officially attributed to the hamstring injury, and Chicago proceeded with Keenum as its starter.
In other news, Kylian Mbappé was sent home with a knee injury after scoring in Zinedine Zidane’s France debut.
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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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