'It's been a distraction' – Caleb Williams finally addresses the 2024 comments on not wanting to go to Chicago in the best way possible
Bombshells struck the Chicago Bears building a few days back when ESPN's Seth Wickersham released excerpts of his new book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback."In the book, Wickersham interviewed quarterback Caleb Williams and his father, Carl Williams, well before Williams was selected first overall by the Chicago Bears.Those excerpts revealed quotes about Williams' […]
Bombshells struck the Chicago Bears building a few days back when ESPN's Seth Wickersham released excerpts of his new book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback."
In the book, Wickersham interviewed quarterback Caleb Williams and his father, Carl Williams, well before Williams was selected first overall by the Chicago Bears.
Those excerpts revealed quotes about Williams' hesitation in going to Chicago and even thoughts of taking extreme measures to make sure it didn't happen.
Releasing said excerpts during the heart of the NFL offseason was a good ploy to generate attention, because the reporting caught wildfire in Chicago. To the point where head coach Ben Johnson and multiple players were asked specifically about it, even though those comments were over a year old and irrelevant now.
When Williams didn't meet with the media last week during organized team activities, the media went wild again demanding that he answer for what was shared in those excerpts. On Wednesday, Williams finally addressed the media for the first time.
"It wasn't something that we wanted to happen at this point. We're focused on the present and we're focused on now," Williams explained to reporters. "We're focused on getting this ship moving in the right direction. For this to come out, it's been a distraction. So, coming up here and talking about it and addressing it is important…
"I think the timing [of the report], it's not ideal. But, we're here, it happened, and we learn from it. I think it's an experience for myself and obviously for everybody else. We're focused on now. Present day. We're not here to talk about the past anymore."
He's right, it's been a major distraction and something caused entirely by the media for absolutely no reason other than to create drama. Everything in that book is old news and should be left in the past.
Williams obviously feels much differently now about the Bears, the state of the organization, and what this team can achieve under the new staff.
"It's a challenge to be able to come in here and turn it around," Williams added. "I think that was enticing. I wanted to come here and be the guy, and be a part, and be a reason of why the Chicago Bears turned this thing around."
Embracing the challenge head-on and changing the narrative in Chicago is something Williams' new head coach brought up as well while talking to the media last week.
"I love it," Johnson said. "I love the opportunity to come on in and change that narrative. That's where great stories are written. So, we're looking to write a new chapter here – 2025 Chicago Bears – and looking forward to the future."
After all that happened over the last few years in Chicago, Williams had every right to feel the way he did about coming here. And after his turbulent rookie season, it's easy to see why he initially felt that way.
The important thing is: He's here and he wants to be the one to turn things around. That is the story in Chicago and the one worth talking about. It's time to leave everything else in the past and stop creating distractions around him and this team.
