Bears QB Caleb Williams was so concerned about being picked by Chicago that he and his family weighed circumventing the entire 2024 NFL draft😳
Williams and his father, Carl Williams, consulted with lawyers to figure out a way around the league’s collective bargaining agreement while considering signing with the United Football League to potentially pick his team as an NFL free agent in 2025.
“Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” Carl Williams told Seth Wickersham.
Williams met with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell at the 2024 combine, and they “hit it off,” which led to Caleb telling his father that he “needs” to go to Minnesota.
Bears GM Ryan Poles stood firm, telling Williams, “We’re drafting you no matter what.”
There were pre-draft rumors that Williams did not want to play for the Bears, and those rumors appear to be true.
(via ESPN)
Caleb Williams and Father Explored Draft Workaround to Avoid Bears, New Book Reveals
In a startling revelation from Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback, it’s disclosed that Caleb Williams and his father, Carl Williams, actively sought to prevent the quarterback from being drafted by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Carl Williams, expressing deep concerns over the Bears’ historical struggles with developing quarterbacks, reportedly consulted legal experts to find a way around the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. One consideration was for Caleb to join the United Football League (UFL) temporarily, thereby bypassing the draft and entering the NFL as a free agent in 2025. Carl criticized the NFL’s rookie wage scale as “unconstitutional” and detrimental to his son’s market value, estimating potential earnings losses exceeding $200 million.
Caleb Williams had a strong preference for the Minnesota Vikings, especially after a positive meeting with head coach Kevin O’Connell during the 2024 NFL Combine. He expressed to his father a desire to play for Minnesota, stating he “needs” to go there.
Despite these efforts, Bears General Manager Ryan Poles remained resolute, informing Williams that the team would draft him regardless of his preferences.
Williams went on to start all 17 games in his rookie season, amassing 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. However, he was sacked 68 times—a franchise record and the third-highest in NFL history.
Following a 5–12 season, the Bears made significant coaching changes, hiring Ben Johnson as head coach and Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator. Johnson has since addressed the pre-draft controversy, stating that Williams is now fully committed to the team and motivated to excel in the upcoming season.
The Bears are set to open the 2025 season against the Minnesota Vikings on “Monday Night Football” at Soldier Field, adding an intriguing layer to Williams’ ongoing journey with Chicago.