In a shocking revelation, Caleb Williams’ desire to join the Minnesota Vikings rather than the Chicago Bears is one of the key insights shared in journalist Seth Wickersham’s new book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback. The 23-year-old quarterback, who was selected as the first overall pick by the Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft, reportedly went to great lengths to avoid joining the Chicago franchise.
According to Wickersham’s book, Williams and his father, Carl Williams, were outspoken in their reluctance to play for a team they viewed as a potential career killer. Carl Williams, who played college football at Oklahoma State and now runs the ‘Athletic Republic Capitol Region’ physical training center, had serious reservations about Caleb’s future with the Bears. He famously remarked that quarterbacks drafted by the Bears tend to “die” in their careers due to the franchise’s lack of success with developing quarterbacks.
Despite their reluctance, the Bears’ general manager, Ryan Poles, remained resolute in his decision to bring Caleb Williams into the team’s locker room. In his first NFL season, Williams threw for 3,541 yards, scoring 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. Despite this solid performance, the Bears finished at the bottom of the NFC North with a disappointing 5-12 record. Their struggles were evident throughout the season, with the final game against the Green Bay Packers being a narrow 24-22 victory, but it came too late to salvage their playoff hopes.
Caleb Williams’ underwhelming performance last season, despite high expectations, led to some criticism from NFL fans. However, Mike Florio, founder of ProFootballTalk, continues to back Williams and expects a breakout season in the near future. Florio believes Williams will overcome the challenges and criticisms that have plagued him, adding that there are certain forces working to undermine him within the team. Despite this, Florio remains optimistic about Williams’ potential to thrive under new head coach Ben Johnson.
As the 2025 NFL season looms, Williams will have a chance to prove himself, beginning with the Bears’ opening game against the Minnesota Vikings, a team Williams had reportedly preferred to join. Prior to that, the Bears will play two preseason games, facing off against the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs to prepare for the season ahead.
While the rift between Williams and the Bears may raise questions, it is clear that the young quarterback has the talent to succeed. The pressure is now on Williams to deliver in what many are hoping will be a turning point for the Bears, a franchise that has long struggled to develop a successful quarterback. With a new season on the horizon, all eyes will be on Caleb Williams to see if he can silence the critics and lead the Bears back to contention.