'Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die' — Caleb Williams and family plotted bold plan to keep him away from the Bears
Caleb Williams was forced to play for the Chicago Bears, because that's how the draft and the NFL work. But he and his family considered extreme options, according to a book written by ESPN reporter Seth Wickersham: "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback."In an interview with Wickersham, Caleb's father, Carl Williams, indicated they had […]
Caleb Williams was forced to play for the Chicago Bears, because that's how the draft and the NFL work. But he and his family considered extreme options, according to a book written by ESPN reporter Seth Wickersham: "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback."
In an interview with Wickersham, Caleb's father, Carl Williams, indicated they had consulted with lawyers to figure out a way around the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. The options included even signing with the UFL.
"Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," Carl Williams told Wickersham before last year's draft.
The plan, according to the report, involved publicly saying bad things about the Bears organization and even about the city of Chicago to create an unsustainable situation.
"I don't want my son playing for the Bears," Carl told several agents in 2024. He gave the examples of Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields, highly-touted prospects who failed in Chicago over the past decade.
Caleb's father had conversations with Archie Manning, who helped Eli Manning force a trade out of the San Diego Chargers to the New York Giants back in 2004. The rookie-wage scale contract was also an issue.
According to the book, Caleb Williams decided he wanted to go to another NFC North team, the Minnesota Vikings, after a pre-draft contact with head coach Kevin O'Connell. However, Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he would draft Williams no matter what.
Ultimately, Caleb feared that the Bears wouldn't trade him, and that the situation would grow worse.
"I wasn't ready to nuke the city," Caleb told Wickersham.
The book is going to be published in September and also touches how Williams' rookie season went, including the firings of head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Now, it's a new chapter, and Caleb will have the opportunity to work with head coach Ben Johnson.
But things could've been much different for everyone involved—Poles, the coaches, Caleb, and second overall pick Jayden Daniels, who ended up being the second overall pick by the Washington Commanders and won the offensive rookie of the year award, leading his team to the NFC Championship Game.
