The cheese grater hat made its return following the Bears’ stunning comeback win over the Packers in the wild-card round Saturday, and this time, Caleb Williams had a real cheese grater, too.
During a segment on the Prime Video postgame show following Chicago’s 31-27 victory, Williams, wideout DJ Moore and tight end Colston Loveland all donned matching cheese grater hats, and at one point, analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick handed Williams a block of cheese and a grater.
Then, with his tongue out as he basked in the roar of the Chicago fans still at Soldier Field, Williams picked up the props and started grating the cheese.
It added a jolt to the storied rivalry that added another chapter — from frosty handshakes between head coaches Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur to Williams’ cheese-grating moment after securing the first playoff win of his young career — throughout the three meetings this season between the Bears and the Packers.
The cheese grater hat first made an appearance in late December, days after the Bears defeated Green Bay in overtime on Dec. 20, when Williams distributed meals in Chicago.
Williams recovered from throwing two interceptions to toss a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter Saturday night, and the Bears’ offense recovered from managing just three points in the first half by erupting for 25 in the final frame to secure the franchise’s first postseason victory since a 2010 victory over the Seahawks in the divisional round.
The second-year quarterback finished with 361 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“True belief,” Williams, who encountered an injury scare when he rolled his ankle, told reporters. “Belief. That’s all you need. You got belief in the coaches that they’re gonna call the right play at the right time. You got belief in the players on the field that you’re gonna make the right play at the right time.”
The Bears will get a chance to keep their storybook season — one now featuring seven fourth-quarter comebacks — alive next weekend when they face either the No. 3-seeded Eagles or fifth-seeded Rams.
And the Packers, after a fifth consecutive loss to close the year, now have to address questions about the future of head coach Matt LaFleur, who declined to get into his status in the immediate aftermath of their playoff exit.
