Report: Caleb Williams, family didn’t want QB to play for Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams and his family allegedly consulted with lawyers in an effort to avoid the Chicago Bears selecting him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to ESPN. Of course, that effort was for naught as the former USC quarterback landed with the Bears, where he was sacked a league-worst 68 times last season.

According to a new forthcoming book from ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, author of the upcoming “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,” Williams and his family initially raised concerns about the Bears offensive system under then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

“Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” Williams’ father, Carl, reportedly told Wickersham.

Williams himself allegedly asked confidants: “Do I want to go there? I don’t think I can do it with Waldron.”

The Williams family reportedly even entertained the idea of signing with the United Football League, just to avoid landing with the Bears, according to Wickersham’s upcoming book.

Wickersham’s book revealed the great lengths Williams’ father, Carl, went in an effort to circumvent the 2024 NFL Draft in an effort to give Caleb the opportunity to pick where he plays professional football, which isn’t an option in the NFL due to the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Carl Williams reportedly expressed serious concern about the Bears’ history with quarterbacks, especially under former head coach Matt Eberflus and Waldron.

“I don’t want my son playing for the Bears,” Carl Williams allegedly told agents ahead of the 2024 draft.

Wickersham also reported Carl Williams even went as far as to reach out to Archie Manning, who was instrumental in Eli Manning‘s bid to control his own NFL landing spot in the 2004 NFL Draft. In that situation, after threats from the Mannings, the San Diego Chargers selected Eli Manning with the No. 1 overall pick before trading him to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers, the No. 4 pick in 2004, and multiple additional draft picks.

The book, which is expected to be published in September, details everything that goes into making a successful quarterback across multiple levels from high school to the NFL and even includes what retirement is like for NFL legends. The book includes “unprecedented access” with dozens of legendary quarterbacks, including members of the Manning family, fellow NFL Hall of Famers John Elway, Johnny Unitas, Warren Moon, Steve Young and current NFL QBs Kirk Cousins and Drake Maye, per ESPN.

There are also new details about the “ruthless recruitment” of Texas quarterback Arch Manning, the 2023 No. 1 overall recruit who is entering his first season as the Longhorns’ starting QB this upcoming season.