Bears’ Wild-Card Victory Sparks Celebration with Cheese Grater Theme
Following an unexpected victory against the Packers in Saturday’s wild-card round, the cheese grater hat made a comeback. But this time, Caleb Williams wasn’t just wearing the hat—he actually brought a cheese grater with him.
During the Prime Video postgame show after Chicago’s 31-27 win, Williams, along with teammates DJ Moore and Colston Loveland, sported matching cheese grater hats. In a playful moment, analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick handed Williams a block of cheese and a grater.
To the delight of the Chicago fans still at Soldier Field, Williams stuck his tongue out, picked up the prop, and began grating cheese.
The three games between the Bears and Packers this season, marked by various events from the frosty handshake between coaches Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur to Williams’ cheese-grating antics, have certainly added a new chapter to this storied rivalry.
The cheese grater hat first appeared last December when Williams was delivering meals in Chicago, shortly after the Bears’ overtime victory against Green Bay on December 20.
On Saturday, Williams rebounded from throwing two interceptions and making two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. The Bears’ offense dramatically improved, scoring 25 points in the final quarter after only managing three in the first half, marking the team’s first playoff win since beating the Seahawks in the 2010 divisional round.
The second-year quarterback threw for 361 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“It’s real faith,” Williams shared with reporters, noting an injury scare when he twisted his ankle. “Belief. That’s all you need. The coach has faith that he’s going to make the right play at the right time. The players on the field have faith that they’re going to make the right play at the right time.”
The Bears have the opportunity to extend their impressive season, which has included seven comebacks in the fourth quarter, next weekend against either the third-seeded Eagles or the fifth-seeded Rams.
Meanwhile, after ending the year with five consecutive losses, the Packers face uncertainty about the future of head coach Matt LaFleur, who opted not to discuss his job immediately after the playoff loss.
