Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, had significant reservations about joining the Chicago Bears leading up to last year’s NFL draft. He, alongside his father Carl Williams, explored various avenues to influence which team would select him, as revealed in an upcoming book slated for a September release.
The book, titled “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback” by ESPN reporter Seth Wickersham, explores the lengths the Williams duo were willing to go to avoid Caleb being drafted by the Bears. According to the book, they sought legal advice to challenge the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, looked into signing with the United Football League, and even considered making public statements against the Bears to make the situation unworkable for the team.
In a candid remark featured in the book, Carl Williams expressed his animosity, stating, “Chicago is where quarterbacks go to die.” This revelation about their feelings toward the Bears was highlighted by an ESPN report on Thursday.
Caleb Williams reportedly communicated to those close to him that he was not confident in working with then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. However, Bears general manager Ryan Poles was resolute, reportedly stating, “We’re drafting you no matter what.”
Despite his initial reluctance, Williams eventually accepted the possibility of being drafted by Chicago. After a pre-draft tour of the team’s facilities, he began to believe he could play a role in turning the team’s fortunes around.
During his rookie season, Williams threw 20 touchdown passes, was intercepted six times, and endured a staggering 68 sacks, the highest in the league. The Bears struggled throughout the season, enduring a 10-game losing streak and concluding with a 5-12 record. Midway through the season, nine games in, Shane Waldron was relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator, and head coach Matt Eberflus was dismissed after the team’s 12th game.
In response to a challenging season, the Bears hired Ben Johnson, previously the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, as their head coach in January. Declan Doyle, who previously held assistant coaching positions with New Orleans and Denver, takes over as the new offensive coordinator.
Wickersham’s book, published by Hyperion Avenue, a division of Disney’s ESPN’s parent company, promises to offer deeper insights into Williams’s journey and the dynamics surrounding his NFL entry.