May 16, NFL:
In a revealing account from Seth Wickersham’s forthcoming book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback, it’s disclosed that Carl Williams, father of quarterback Caleb Williams, actively sought to prevent his son from being drafted by the Chicago Bears as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Carl Williams harbored concerns about the Bears’ historical struggles with developing quarterbacks, citing the team’s track record with players like Justin Fields and Mitchell Trubisky. He reportedly believed that Chicago was a place where “quarterbacks go to die.”
To circumvent the draft, Carl Williams explored various strategies, including legal avenues to challenge the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and rookie wage scale, which he criticized as “unconstitutional” and detrimental to his son’s market value. He even considered having Caleb join the United Football League to avoid being locked into the NFL’s rookie contract structure.
Despite these efforts, the Bears remained steadfast in their decision to draft Caleb Williams. General Manager Ryan Poles informed Caleb that the team would select him regardless of any reservations. Caleb, who initially expressed a preference for playing with the Minnesota Vikings after a positive interaction with coach Kevin O’Connell, eventually committed to the Bears.
Caleb’s rookie season with the Bears proved challenging. He was sacked a league-high 68 times and concluded the season with 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. The Bears finished with a 5-12 record, leading to the dismissal of head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Ben Johnson has since been hired as the new head coach, with the organization hopeful for a turnaround in Williams’ second NFL year.
This episode underscores the complexities and challenges that can arise during the NFL draft process, especially when top prospects and their families seek to influence their professional trajectories. Keep Reading Questiqa.us for more news.
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