Dyslexia, Caleb Williams Alleged Condition: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Rookie quarterbacks in the NFL almost always go through struggles and growing pains as they attempt to adapt to what is perhaps the single most complex and difficult position to play in any sport. Hall of Famer Peyton Manning threw a league-leading 28 interceptions in his first season.
Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills completed only 52.8 percent of his passes as a rookie with an extremely modest passer rating of 49.8 on the season. The examples are numerous.
But for the Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams, according to a recent report, there was more than the usual first-year baptism of fire going on in his inconsistent 2024 season.
The report alleged that Bears coaches and staffers suspected that the 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick out of USC had something else happening — namely, a learning disorder that had never been properly diagnosed — or if it had, Williams somehow kept it a secret.
The condition Williams is alleged to be dealing with is known as dyslexia.
It should be noted that there has been no official confirmation that Williams is actually dyslexic. But circumstantial evidence in the report last Friday by independent investigative journalist Tyler Dunne suggests that Williams may indeed have the condition.
But dyslexia is widely misunderstood disorder. Here are some of most important facts about what dyslexia is, and what it is not.
Dyslexia is a Neurological Condition That Affects Language Processing
Dyslexia is not a “disease.” People who have the condition simply have brains and nervous systems that develop in a different way from the majority of the population. As the International Dyslexia Association puts it, the condition is the result of “a different wiring of the brain.”
While dyslexia can affect the ability to read, or to learn reading, it is actually a condition that “can cause problems with breaking spoken language down into its component parts, which in turn affects reading and spelling skills,” according to the language learning site Touch-Type, Read and Spell.
In fact, some experts refer to dyslexia not as a “learning disability,” but as a “learning difference.”
Dyslexia is Not Related to Intelligence
Because dyslexic people can have difficulty reading or communicating with language, many teachers and even parents can mistake the condition for being “stupid.” But nothing could be further from the truth. Multiple studies have shown that there is no correlation between intellectual ability and dyslexia, one way or the other. In fact, many dyslexic children are otherwise classified as intellectually “gifted.”
Another common misconception is that dyslexic people see written letters backwards, or reverse letters in the spelling of words. But according to the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, “many young children reverse letters when learning to write, regardless of whether or not they have dyslexia. In fact, most children with dyslexia do not reverse letters.”
Dyslexia is a Common Condition
Studies by the National Institute of Health have found that approximately 20 percent of Americans, or one in every five people, is affected by dyslexia. But the condition does not present the same way in every person who has it.
While some may experience only mild effects, in others dyslexia can cause severe problems in language-related learning. In Williams’ case, according to Dunne’s reporting, coaches perceived that the rookie quarterback would “struggle with basic huddle calls and forget to motion players,” as well over-relying on his wristband for information about play-calls.
There is No ‘Cure’ For Dyslexia
While there is no reason that Williams cannot live up to his potential as top-level NFL quarterback even if he his found to have dyslexia, the condition stays with those who experience it for their entire lives. But screening, proper diagnosis and other interventions can help dyslexic individuals overcome obstacles it can cause. And as a person grows older, the symptoms of dyslexia may change and become easier to handle.
Many Highly Successful People Have Been Dyslexic
If, indeed, Williams is eventually diagnosed with dyslexia, he would be far from alone among high-achieving people. Other well-known and successful figures who have dyslexia include Thomas Edison, inventor of the electric light, movie camera and sound recording, who was diagnosed with the condition at age two.
Whoopi Goldberg, the actress and entertainer who currently co-hosts The View, was diagnosed at age nine. She went on become the rare performer who has won Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy awards.
One the greatest American World War II generals, George S. Patton who played an indispensable role in winning that war and saving the world from Nazism, also had dyslexia. According to the Warfare History Network, the condition may have actually contributed to Patton’s “genius” for military strategy and command.
Deebo Samuel’s Kickoff Return Role Sparks Debate: Is It Worth the Risk for Commanders?
It didn't take long for the Washington Commanders to have the whole Deebo Samuel experience. The sixth-year wide receiver caught seven passes for 77 yards and carried the ball one time for 19 yards and a touchdown in Washington's Week 1 win over the New York Giants.
Samuel also served as the Commanders' primary kickoff returner. Samuel averaged 25 yards in his two returns on Sunday.
Considering Samuel's style of play, injury history, and the need to preserve him, should he be returning kicks? When Washington coach Dan Quinn met with the media on Monday, he was asked if he's worried Samuel will get hurt, considering some of the collisions on kick returns.
"I try not, I wouldn't put him in if I felt like that would be the case because I do know it's some game-breaking plays, but if we can be the best at that, then I think that's a really big opt to do it," Quinn said. "It's definitely different than it was just two years ago. They're closer, it's different. It's a more effective way, I think, with the kick and the kick returns. We're still learning it and growing, but I do feel like he's the type of person that can be a game breaker at it."
Quinn is correct. When the NFL changed the kickoff rules before the 2024 season, it was done with player safety in mind. The new kickoff features fewer high-speed collisions because the kicking team can't build up speed as quickly as before. Therefore, we saw several teams put more high-profile players in at kick returner last season. The Commanders did it with veteran running back Austin Ekeler. While Ekeler was successful in the role, he also suffered a concussion returning a kickoff.
Quinn isn't the first coach to have Samuel return kicks. The 49ers had Samuel returning kicks last season after the rules were changed. Samuel's run-after-catch ability makes him an ideal candidate to return kicks. With San Francisco last season, Samuel returned 17 kickoffs for 533 yards.
Samuel has only played a full season once. However, he has only missed two games in each of the past two seasons. Samuel is often beaten up because of his style of play, which makes the argument of not using him on kick returns a valid one.
Former Washington head coach Jay Gruden probably wouldn't use Samuel on kickoff returns.
"Yeah, that's a tough one for me," Gruden told "Grant & Danny" of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., on Monday. "I don't know if I'd put him back there; however, I don't know what the alternative is. I don't know if the new rookie running back can do it, I don't know who else could do it........I would err on the side of not putting him back there if I had somebody else that was almost as good. I would put him back there and let Deebo save his energy for offense."
Before you get mad at Gruden, he understands the situation the Commanders are in. Who else can do it effectively? Quinn and Gruden make good points. There is risk and reward involved here. It took only one game for Samuel to make himself an indispensable option for quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Neither opinion is wrong, but so much will come down to Samuel's health. Considering he also impacts the running game, the Commanders may eventually choose to err on the side of caution
