Caleb Williams discusses alleged pre-draft notions about avoiding Chicago Bears and states assertively: "I desired to join this team"
CHICAGO - Caleb Williams spent 15 minutes addressing a story that raised eyebrows across the NFL in a news conference at Halas Hall last Wednesday. The narrative, detailed in Seth Wickersham's upcoming book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," revealed Williams' reservations about playing for the Chicago Bears before the 2024 draft.
Two weeks prior, excerpts from the book disclosed that Williams privately questioned if he could engineer a trade to play for the Minnesota Vikings under coach Kevin O'Connell instead of joining the Bears. Additionally, Williams and his father, Carl, explored the possibility of spending the 2024 season in the United Football League to gain control over the start of his NFL career.
During the news conference, Williams acknowledged the controversy and admitted that it had been a distraction. "This whole storm that happened wasn't something we wanted,” he said. He further clarified that all the considerations mentioned in Wickersham's book were "all ideas."
Williams eventually came to terms with his decision to play for the Bears, stating, "After I came on my (predraft) visit here, it was a deliberate and determined answer I had that I wanted to come here." He expressed his desire to turn the team's fortunes around and become "a reason why the Chicago Bears turn this thing around."
Despite his initial concerns about the Bears' history of quarterback failures, Williams had gained comfort since being drafted first by the team. Even amid a turbulent 2024 season, which resulted in the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and coach Matt Eberflus during a 10-game losing streak, Williams expressed confidence in his ability to perform.
In response to questions about his past apprehensions, Williams emphasized his self-belief and the support he received from his teammates. When asked about his relationship with the organization and whether he endorsed it, he focused on his loyal dedication to his teammates and the production he delivered during the tumultuous season.
Williams also shared an enthusiastic early assessment of his new coach, Ben Johnson, who is expected to help bring out the best in the starting quarterback. Johnson has been purposeful in challenging Williams, setting the tone for a promising working relationship between the two at Halas Hall.
The bond between Williams and Johnson is crucial to the success of the team going forward. While they are still in the early stages of their relationship, Johnson's focus, encouragement, and drive to win have already made an impression on the young quarterback.
[1] https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34298408/caleb-williams-father-carl-talked-purposely-moving-sons-team-minnesota-vikings-chicago-bears[2] https://www.si.com/nfl/2025/03/10/caleb-williams-nfl-draft-chicago-bears-qb[3] https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/nfl/caleb-williams-father-envisioned-his-son-playing-ufl-chicago-bears-draft-pick
- In spite of initial reservations about joining the NFL's Chicago Bears due to historical quarterback failures and a desire to play for the Minnesota Vikings, Caleb Williams acknowledged all the speculated ideas in Seth Wickersham's upcoming book were mere possibilities.
- As the upcoming NFL season approaches, Caleb Williams' relationship with new coach Ben Johnson is believed to be crucial to the success of the Chicago Bears, with Johnson already making an impression on the promising quarterback through his focus, encouragement, and drive to win.
