Caleb Williams and the Concern for the Bears: An Intimate Look at the 2024 NFL Draft
Quarterback Caleb Williams showed great concern about being chosen by the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL draft, so much so that he and his family considered drastic options, according to a forthcoming book.
Caleb’s father, Carl Williams, went as far as to express his concern about his son’s fate in Chicago, even considering the possibility of avoiding the draft. “Chicago is where quarterbacks go to die,” Carl Williams told author Seth Wickersham.
Do I want to go there? I don’t think I can do it with the former Bears offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron.
Caleb Williams
The book, which will be published in September, offers a detailed look at the life of a quarterback at different levels, from high school to the NFL. It includes interviews with legendary figures such as John Elway, members of the Manning family, and Steve Young, as well as current quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins and Drake Maye.
Carl Williams, with the aim that his son could choose his future, explored alternatives to evade the NFL draft. Concerned about the history of the franchise, the uncertainty of the stadium, and the low offensive performance under then-head coach Matt Eberflus, Carl Williams feared that Caleb would not have the necessary support to succeed.
I don’t want my son to play for the Bears.
Carl Williams
In his search for alternatives, Carl Williams consulted with Archie Manning and labor lawyers, and even considered the possibility of his son signing with the United Football League to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025 and be able to choose a team.
Caleb Williams, after an uneven final season at USC, was unsure what to do as he prepared for the 2024 draft. At that year’s NFL combine, he met with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, and the two connected. Caleb Williams began to dream of playing for Minnesota.
I need to go to the Vikings.
Caleb Williams
However, both Caleb and Carl knew that a transfer to a divisional rival was extremely unlikely.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles stood firm, telling Williams: “We’re going to pick you no matter what.”
This left one option: to publicly attack the Bears and the city of Chicago, hoping that the situation would become unsustainable.
Finally, Caleb Williams decided that he was not willing to “destroy the city.” After a pre-draft visit to the Bears’ facilities, Williams believed he could be part of a process to change the franchise.
The book also reveals Williams’ tumultuous rookie season, in which Eberflus and Waldon were fired and the Bears lost 10 consecutive games. At times, Williams watched videos on his own, without instruction or guidance from the coaches.
Despite the instability of the coaching staff, Caleb Williams played for the most part well as a rookie. He completed 62.5% of his passes, with 20 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He was sacked 68 times, the most in the league.
The Bears hired acclaimed Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in January. Speaking with reporters in April, Caleb Williams was enthusiastic.
“Being able to be in this position, being able to have a first year like I had, with ups and downs, and then being able to get here, be as confident as I was last year or possibly even more and being able to get here with the group we have, I really can’t wait to get to work with these guys,” he said.
