The rumors were true.
Caleb Williams wasn’t exactly jumping at the chance to be a Chicago Bear.
In fact, it was quite the opposite.
Leading up to the 2024 NFL draft, there were murmurs of Williams and his father, Carl Williams, doing work behind closed doors in an effort to avoid being taken by Chicago with the first overall pick.
And as it turns out, the Williams family did much more than just put out feelers in an attempt to avoid the Bears franchise.
They did everything in their power to avoid the Windy City.
In Seth Wickersham’s forthcoming book, ‘American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,’ he details what the months leading up to the draft were like for Chicago’s now franchise QB.
“Do I want to go there? I don’t think I can do it with [former Bears offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron,” Williams said aloud to confidants.
Turns out, Williams was correct in questioning the stability and long-term success with that specific coaching staff.
Waldron was fired nine games into the year and head coach Matt Eberflus was gone shortly after the season concluded.
Two points to the Williams family.
“I don’t want my son playing for the Bears,” the elder Williams told several agents in 2024.
Williams’ father even reached out to Archie Manning, who helped his son, Eli Manning, take control of where he wanted to go, coming out of college in 2004.
The family met with labor lawyers and agents, even considering if the then USC quarterback should sign with the United Football League for a year and then go to the NFL.
Carl also had a major problem with the rookie wage scale, citing that his son’s value would be tanked in Chicago and he would lose hundreds of millions in market-value income.
“The rookie cap is just unconstitutional,” Carl Williams told Wickersham.
He referenced the CBA as the “worst piece of s*** I’ve ever read. It’s the worst in sports history.”
After a predraft visit with the Minnesota Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell, Williams had his eyes set on the Twin Cities.
“I need to go to the Vikings,” Williams told his father.
That was never going to happen.
Believe it or not, there is actually good news that comes out of this, Bears fans.
After another redraft visit to the facility, Williams put the doubt aside and believed he could turn the downtrodden franchise around.
“I can do it for this team,” Caleb told his dad.
“I’m going to go to the Bears.”
And that he did.
Bears fans will get a first look at new head coach Ben Johnson‘s offense as the Bears begin preseason against the Miami Dolphins.
The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator has a reputation as a QB whisperer and helped Jared Goff hit the form of his life.
But Williams, who has struggled in training camp, will sit out the preseason opener with backup Tyson Bagent handed the start.