Caleb Williams sought to dodge Chicago Bears draft
- Caleb Williams and his father explored methods to avoid being drafted by the Bears, including consulting lawyers.
- Williams considered signing with the United Football League to become an unrestricted NFL free agent.
- Despite initial concerns, Williams decided to play for the Bears, believing he could contribute to the team's success.
In the lead-up to the 2024 NFL draft, Caleb Williams expressed significant reservations about being selected by the Chicago Bears, a notoriously struggling franchise. Documents reveal that he and his father consulted with lawyers to explore avenues to circumvent the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. They even considered signing with the United Football League instead, which could have made Caleb an unrestricted free agent in 2025. Carl Williams, Caleb's father, was particularly outspoken about his concerns regarding the franchise's history of failing to develop quarterbacks, remarking that 'Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die.' Their strategy included potential public criticism aimed at the Bears to create an untenable drafting situation. Ultimately, however, Caleb resigned to the prospect of being drafted after a meeting with Bears management, expressing a newfound belief in his ability to contribute positively to the team. This change of heart culminated in him being selected by the Bears as the franchise quarterback. Following his acquisition, the organization underwent significant changes in coaching staff, bringing in Ben Johnson from the Detroit Lions as the new head coach, which excited Williams about the future and provided him with a clearer path to establish his career in Chicago.