Caleb Williams initially tried to avoid being drafted by Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams initially tried to avoid being drafted by the Chicago Bears — and he considered extreme measures to prevent it from happening, according to a new book by Seth Wickersham — “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback.”

According to Wickersham, Williams was so concerned about being picked by the Bears that he and his dad, Carl Williams, considered different avenues to avoid that — from circumventing the NFL draft to figuring a way around the league’s collective bargaining agreement to signing with the United Football League.

Carl Williams consulted Archie Manning, who helped Eli Manning choose his team in 2004, in looking for a way around the league’s collective bargaining agreement to give his son a chance to choose his team.

“I don’t want my son playing for the Bears,” Williams told several agents in 2024.

Williams was unsure what he wanted to do heading into the 2024 NFL draft until he met with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, where the pair hit it off at the NFL Scouting Combine. Williams decided he wanted to go to the Vikings, but Bears general manager Ryan Poles made it clear they’d be drafting Williams “no matter what.”

Wickersham revealed that there was an option to publicly attack the Bears and the city of Chicago as a way to destroy an potential relationship. While Carl Williams was eager and willing to do just that, Caleb Williams was concerned it would do further damage if the Bears refused to trade him.

“I wasn’t ready to nuke the city,” Williams told Wickersham.

But after a pre-draft visit with the Bears, Williams came to the conclusion that he could help turn the franchise around.

“I can do it for this team,” Caleb told his dad. “I’m going to go to the Bears.”

Williams’ rookie season was a disaster — he was sacked a league-high 68 times, lost 10 straight games, went through two head coaches and three offensive coordinators — but he still showed that he has what it takes to be the franchise quarterback this team has needed.

The Bears spent the offseason building around Williams — from the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach to overhauling the entire interior offensive line to adding more weapons around him. Now, heading into Year 2, Williams is in a position where he can succeed.