Dave Portnoy Accuses Caleb Williams of Spreading Disinformation

Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, publicly accused Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams of spreading false information on Tuesday. The accusation stems from Williams reposting a tweet that criticized Portnoy.

Portnoy addressed the situation on X, formerly Twitter, stating, "I woke up to Bears Qb @CALEBcsw spreading disinformation about me. I didn’t get anybody arrested or kicked outta school." He added, "That moron threw shit at me on camera in the middle of a pizza review and it went viral. Play stupid games win stupid prizes."

Portnoy also conveyed a conciliatory tone, saying he would not hold the incident against Williams. "Regardless I will not hold this against Caleb. He’s an emotional guy and in his feelings after tweaking his hammy. I am rooting for him and all of Chicago. I can’t wait to see 18 back on the field this week after that season ending injury. When they go low I go high! Go Bears! 🐻"

The repost by Williams was of a tweet that highlighted a Barstool Sports video with the caption "Dave calls out Caleb Williams." The user who posted the original tweet wrote, "The guy that had a kid arrested and expelled from school for throwing pennies at him is calling someone else soft LMFAOOOOOO."

This comment appears to reference an incident in 2025 where Portnoy was subjected to antisemitic remarks and had coins thrown at him during a pizza review in Starkville, Mississippi. A Mississippi State student was subsequently arrested and withdrew from the university.

Both Portnoy's video and Williams' retweet were posted on Monday, the day after the Bears' 9-3 loss to the Vikings. During that game, Williams suffered a non-contact hamstring injury in the fourth quarter, leading to him being carted off the field. Initial reports caused concern for the team, but it was later confirmed that Williams avoided a major injury and could potentially play in the upcoming Week 3 game against the Eagles.

The dramatic nature of Williams' injury scare led to some mockery, with claims of overreaction. However, Bears coach Ben Johnson indicated that the injury could be "a week-to-week deal" and that Williams would "likely miss time."

Should Williams be sidelined, the Bears face challenges with backup Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol and third-stringer Case Keenum potentially starting. Bagent, who joined the Bears in 2023, signed a $10 million extension in August 2025. Williams' second season saw the Bears achieve an 11-6 record and reach the divisional round of the playoffs, their first postseason appearance since 2020.