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Eli Manning and John Elway had almost company.
A new book describes how Caleb Williams apparently tried to avoid drafting Chicago Bears last year.
Williams and his family consulted lawyers to find a loophole in the NFL’s collective negotiation agreement, all while his father told the book’s author, Seth Wickersham that “Chicago is the place that quarterbacks go to die.”
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Chicago Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams passes against Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field. (Daniel Bartel-Preferred Pictures)
Williams even wondered if he could “do it” with Shane Waldron, who has since been fired from his offensive coordinator role. His father, Carl, was also concerned about Matt Eberflus (also since turned off as a head coach) and uncertainty within the franchise, along with previous first round of quarterbacks, which the organization had chosen would hold back its son.
“I don’t want my son to play for the bears,” Carl Williams apparently said. Caleb actually told his father that he “needed” to go to Minnesota Vikings after meeting with them, knowing how unlikely it would be.
In fact, the quarterback even considered signing in the United Football League out of the USC instead of being the automatic first choice in the NFL.
The details are highlighted in Wickersham’s book, “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,” which will be released in September.
The bears refused to comment on Pakinomist Digital.
Pakinomist Digital reached out to Williams’ Rep.
Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams speaks during a news conference after his team’s overtime loss to Minnesota Vikings, November 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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Williams eventually stayed in the NFL draft, and he was convinced after sitting with Bears Brass that he could succeed there. General Manager Ryan Pole was not budging, and Williams did not want to pull a staff from 2004 or Elway in 1983.
He was chosen by Chicago to be their next franchise quarterback, and fortunately for Williamses a few of their concerns – the aforementioned Eberflus and Waldron – are no longer in the organization. Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson joined the Bears to be their new head coach this season. It was a step that Williams was “extremely excited” over, to the point where he even thanked Bears brass in a phone call.
“So when I got off the phone, I drove on the highway and I don’t know if it was safe or not, but I gave a loud cries and screams of just excitement,” Williams said. “It brings a lot of clarity to the high season. It brings a lot of different things to the peak season. I’m really excited about the bears and am able to make this happen. And keep Ben Johnson as our coach for a long time.”
He had an up-and-down-rookie season, partly because of the coaching carousel inside the building. He was also fired 68 times, mostly in the NFL. But in total he ended up with 20 touchdowns, six interceptions, 3,541 passing yards and 489 rushing yards. His 4,030 gathered yards were most of a bears -quarterback ever.
Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams is fired by New England Safety Marte Mapu in the closing moments of Patriots ’19 -3 victory, November 10, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Williams got some extra help in the NFL draft when Chicago drafted Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th total election.
