Chicago Bears Quarterback’s Draft Dodging Discoveries

In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. Williams, out of USC by way of Oklahoma, was by most accounts the top quarterback prospect in the field. With the quarterback-inept Bears sitting at the top of the draft board after a trade with Carolina gave them the rights to the selection, the match was made. Williams had a tumultuous rookie season in Chicago, but things are looking up for the future of the club in his second year, which will be the first for Head Coach Ben Johnson.

To look backwards, however, Seth Wickersham is coming out with a new book which discusses, in part, the process of Williams getting to Chicago and how many twists and turns it took for him end up in Chicago. Between Williams’ instincts, the handling of the situation by the Chicago Bears front office, and the influence of Caleb Williams’ dad Carl, the Bears almost didn’t end up with who they hope will be their franchise quarterback for years to come.

Caleb Williams Tried To Avoid the Chicago Bears

In a book by ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, new details are coming out about the process of the Chicago Bears drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams was brought in as the heralded replacement for Justin Fields, a decision that splits the fanbase to this day. If those who were on the Fields side of that argument had their way, Williams would’ve had his way too, according to the book. He was reportedly trying to avoid the Chicago Bears if at all possible.

In the book, Wickersham explains that Caleb Williams and his father, Carl, were wary of the Chicago Bears going into the NFL Draft process. Between the history of the franchise, the leadership of the organization, and the personnel of the team, the family was looking elsewhere. At the most extreme point of this saga, the family was considering alternatives should the Bears follow through and draft the quarterback phenom out of USC by way of Oklahoma. Carl reportedly called Chicago “the place quarterbacks go to die,” ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, referencing that he was looking to explore all options for his child.

The Williams family looked into circumventing the CBA and, therefore, the NFL Draft altogether, trying to find a loophole saving Caleb from the Bears. The most popular option was reportedly going to the UFL, United Football League, for one season before reevaluating their next move. The family consulted with lawyers to try and find a way to keep Caleb away from the Chicago Bears, who were dead set on bringing him in. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles reportedly told Caleb and his family, “We’re drafting you no matter what.”

What This Means Now and Moving Forward

That draft selection ended up being more cordial and celebratory than the seeming threat of drafting Williams. On the phone call that ultimately connected Williams to the Chicago Bears, Poles and Williams were jovial, and all the pre-draft pomp and circumstance seemed to be in the rearview mirror. However, some of the concerns that Caleb and his family raised were valid. Were it not for the incredible overhaul the front office had done this offseason, this could very well still be a story.

Williams was nonplussed by the then-new Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron, worried about his ability to grow and develop. Waldron was fired midseason. He was reportedly cautious of the head coaching situation with Matt Eberflus, being that he was on the fringe of being fired after the 2023 season. He was also fired midseason. Williams had a team in mind that would’ve been his ideal landing place: Minnesota. After meeting with the Vikings ahead of the NFL Draft, Williams reportedly told those close to him that he needs “to go to the Vikings.”

These revelations make the 2025 “Monday Night Football” opener that much more intriguing. The Vikings will travel to Chicago to take on the Bears, featuring the quarterback they ended up with from the 2024 NFL Draft JJ McCarthy, a Chicago product. The brilliance of Kevin O’Connell and his proven track record are obviously enticing to a young quarterback prospect, especially compared to the Chicago Bears.

One year later, though, after being largely proven right about his concerns, Williams and the Bears are in a better spot with Johnson and the swath of moves made by the front office. Fans are hoping that Williams’ play on the field can translate to wins and not make him regret being drafted by the Chicago Bears.