Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s sideline outburst during the Bears vs. Commanders game has fans lip-reading and debating who the target was: Caleb Williams or the refs.
Lip Readers Decode Ben Johnson’s Epic Sideline Blowup at QB Caleb Williams
Lip Readers Decode Ben Johnson’s Epic Sideline Blowup at QB Caleb Williams (Screenshot via X/@PolymarketBlitz)
All these started shortly after a viral clip shared on social media to spread the tense incident in beteen the fans. As the audio was muted, you can see fans are still in debate to ensure who is right and who is wrong
Lip Readers Decode Ben Johnson’s Epic Sideline Blowup at QB Caleb Williams
It was a hard-fought, high-scoring affair on Monday night. The Bears were down 22-24 with under eight minutes left in the tense fourth quarter. A crucial play got canceled because of a questionable offside penalty.
As the ref announced, “Offside, defense number 2, that penalty is declined,” the cameras cut to head coach Johnson, who had recently been under fire during a sideline interview. He was animated, headset on, playsheet in hand, and clearly mouthed, “Shut the f— up.”
Does Ben Johnson tell Caleb Williams to “shut the f$&k up”? 😬
pic.twitter.com/QoVC0SSduf
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) October 14, 2025
@PolymarketBlitz immediately posted the clip on their X handle. The caption read, “Does Ben Johnson tell Caleb Williams to ‘shut the f$&k up’? 😬” Social media lip readers jumped in to decode the context.
The video captured Johnson’s mid-air rant on mic, but the audio was muted, leaving fans to fill in the blanks. The timing of the X-rated trade, right after the offside call, suggests frustration with the refs. However, because Caleb Williams is the face of the franchise, many assumed the heat was actually aimed at him.
Jake Bezants of The Daily Mail reported that Johnson was likely reacting to the officiating since they had just lost a crucial first down. Johnson’s body language matched a coach fed up with the zebras, not his quarterback.
The Bears went on to win 25-24. But the muted sideline moment is still trending in fans’ social media feeds. Safe to say, it’s now part of the growing trend of fans using lip-reading to dissect NFL drama.
Fans Weigh In on Ben Johnson’s Sideline Outburst
Folks on social media come up with their own theories. The majority of fans sided with Johnson, deciding the comment wasn’t aimed at Williams.
One fan wrote, “Talking to the refs, I think.”
Another noted, “Either the refs or his staff. He isn’t in Caleb’s helmet during these calls.”
The third one claimed, “Ben can’t hear anything Caleb is saying. It’s one-way communication.”
A fourth added, “He’s obviously talking to the refs about the call.”
Another random X user remarked, “This is dumb. How & why would he be saying that to Caleb?? Caleb wasn’t standing anywhere near him & the helmets aren’t 2-way communication devices.”
The sixth penned, “Pretty sure he was saying that for the call. Simultaneous with the rest of us.”
The consensus? Johnson was venting at the officiating crew, not his quarterback. But in today’s NFL, one viral clip is all it takes to set off a firestorm.