In the world of sports, athletes are no strangers to criticism. From fans, analysts, and even fellow athletes, the spotlight can often shine harshly on those in the public eye. But for Caleb Williams, the quarterback for the Chicago Bears, criticism is not something to shy away from – it’s something to embrace.
Recently, Williams made headlines when he revealed that he keeps screenshots and links of criticisms directed at him, using them as motivation to fuel his performance on the field. This was revealed when he spoke to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
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“The other part, and this feeds into knowing myself, is all athletes try to act like they don’t see it. I see it, and I use it,” Williams said. “I take screenshots of people. People don’t know it. I have notes and things that I screenshot. I save the links, all of that. I use it.”
Williams is far from the first athlete to use slights, whether real or imagined, as motivation. Nobody in the city of Chicago had more success doing just that than Michael Jordan, and the Bears quarterback highlighted another basketball great who does the same thing.
“There’s always something,” he said. “LeBron [James] always says, and has said before, he only needs one thing. He walks into the stadium, all he needs is one fan, one thing through the week or before the game. Some of it is motivation and some of it is psyching yourself out. That’s the other part. It’s knowing myself. It’s knowing what I like to know, how I like to do things. I know how hard I work. I know the confidence that I have, from my work that I’ve put in for many, many years now.”
As Williams continues to make waves in the world of football, his approach to handling criticism serves as a valuable lesson for aspiring athletes everywhere. It’s not about avoiding criticism or letting it define you – it’s about using it as a tool for growth and self-improvement. And in the end, it’s this mindset that will ultimately set Williams apart as a true standout in the world of sports.
