Caleb Williams was selected first overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft. He went on to set multiple Bears rookie passing records. But according to a new book, Williams actually tried to avoid being drafted by the Bears. Here’s what he has to say about that.
Caleb Williams addresses book quotes head-on
A book called “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback”written by ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, takes a look at what it takes to be a quarterback in the NFL. It will be released in September, but certain quotes from Williams and his dad Carl were released this month as a sneak peek.
The quotes suggest that Williams wanted to avoid going to the Bears first overall and that his dad warned him, “Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die”. Caleb also apparently was concerned about how well he could perform under offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. The book claims that Carl went to “great lengths” to avoid Caleb being drafted by Chicago.
Now that Williams is entering his second season with the Bears, he wanted to address these quotes head-on at their OTAs on Wednesday. Before anyone could even question him on it, Williams made a nearly four-minute speech about what was said in the book.
“I had a good visit …in Minnesota…but something that keeps getting lost…not being addressed the way it needs to be is the fact that I went on that visit first, came here, and then after I came here…it was a deliberate answer that I had, that I wanted to come here.”
Williams didn’t deny the comments in the bookbut rather said it’s normal to question everything, especially considering the Bears’ quarterback play in recent history. But he did mention that his mind was changed after meeting with the team.
“I wanted to come in here and be the guy and be a part and be a reason of why the Chicago Bears turned this thing around,” he said.
That matches what was said in Wickersham’s book, which states that his pre-draft visit got him on board with joining the team and making him want to help turn the franchise around, reportedly telling his dad, “I can do it for this team. I’m going to go to the Bears.”
Although Williams’ father was right in the end – Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus were both fired midseason and reportedly did not provide much guidance for Williams – the Bears have done a complete overhaul this season. They hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their head coach, revamped the offensive line, and brought on two new rookie receivers for Williams (tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III).
“Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” Carl Williams, Caleb’s father, told @SethWickershamauthor of “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,” in the months before the 2024 draft.
At times, Williams said he would watch film alone, with no instruction or guidance… pic.twitter.com/vJZeX0arcM
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) May 16, 2025
So now Williams will look for a second opportunity at really turning things around in Chicago and leave the pre-draft drama in the past.
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