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Caleb Williams addresses report about trying to avoid Chicago Bears: 'It's been a distraction'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•05/28/25•

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Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams
© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Earlier this month, ESPN’s Seth Wickersham shared excerpts from his upcoming book American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback, which will release in September. They included quotes and reporting about Caleb Williams’ feelings about possibly heading to the Chicago Bears in the NFL Draft – and the former USC quarterback addressed everything in a Wednesday press conference.

Williams began his media availability with a nearly four-minute opening statement addressing the “storm” that followed Wickersham’s article. It included quotes from both Williams and his father, Carl, which candidly revealed their concerns about heading to Chicago as the No. 1 overall pick in 2024.

Williams noted the timing of the quotes coming out, which came right before the start of OTAs. That was part of the reason he chose to address it Wednesday, one week after head coach Ben Johnson did so.

“It wasn’t something that we wanted to happen at this point,” Williams told reporters at Halas Hall. “We’re focused on the present, we’re focused on now, we’re focused on trying to get this ship moving in the right direction. And I think, so far, that’s what we’ve been doing.

“But for this to come out, it’s been a distraction. So coming up here and talking about it and addressing it is important today. That’s what we’re here to do.”

Caleb Williams wants to flip the script in Chicago

In the article, Wickersham reported Caleb Williams’ particular interest in the Minnesota Vikings and that his family looked into potentially heading to the United Football League before heading to the NFL in 2025 as a free agent so he could pick his team. Williams confirmed he had a “good visit” with the Vikings and eventual Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell.

But one of the central parts of the article was the shift in feeling about Chicago after Williams’ visit. He reiterated that Wednesday, adding he took the Vikings visit first. He also understood why his family tried to look into all options, especially considering the Bears’ rough history with quarterbacks as the only franchise without a 4,000-yard passer.

“Something that keeps getting lost, something that keeps getting, I think, not being addressed the way it needs to be, is the fact that I went on that visit first,” Williams said. “Came here, and then after I came here … I went back home, talked to my dad and all of the things that were supposed to be these big things that everybody’s been talking about recently – one, never happened in the sense of, they were all thoughts. They were all ideas. And I think if you’re in the situation, I think if your son or daughter, anybody is in the situation to be in that position, I think you think about all of the options and you look at it, the history and the facts and all these different things. Those are thoughts that go throughout your head in those situations. All of those are thoughts.

“And then after I came on my visit here, it was a deliberate answer – and deliberate and determined answer – that I had is that I wanted to come here. … Just like Ben said, it’s a challenge to be able to come in here and try and turn it around. That was the main goal of all of that is through all of what was going on, through all of what happened and last year and previous years, I think that was enticing. I think that was something that was glaring to me, that and I want to come here and be the guy and be a part and be a reason why the Chicago Bears turn this thing around.”

‘I love being here’

Caleb Williams’ first season wasn’t an easy one. He was sacked 68 times, which is the fourth-most in NFL history. He also set Bears rookie records with 3,541 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, and the franchise made a splash this offseason by landing Ben Johnson as coach. They also built the offensive line with additions such as Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson.

The pieces are in place for Williams to take a leap forward this season, and he knows that. But with the challenge of trying to rewrite the script in Chicago, it adds even more motivation for the former Heisman Trophy winner.

“That last thing that was said in all of that, I think, was the most important thing, is that I wanted to be here,” Williams said. “I love being here. I love my teammates, I love all the people that got me here – family, friends, Ryan [Poles], Kevin [Warren], [Matt Eberflus] and Shane [Waldron]. All those guys that went through all of that process with me to get me here. All those things, like I said, were thoughts. But the main goal and the main objective of being here is to turn it around.

“That’s why I was selected No. 1. That’s what we’re here to do, that’s what they brought me here to do, that’s what they brought all these guys here to do. Joe, DJ [Moore], all these different guys. And that’s why they brought Ben here. Like I said, it’s a challenge and we look at those challenges. We don’t laugh. We look at them, really seriously and we go attack them to the best of our ability to go and change and turn it around.”