Caleb Williams considered signing with UFL to avoid getting drafted by Bears

The Chicago Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer in the long history of their franchise. Their failure to develop quarterbacks led to Caleb Williams considering options to avoid being drafted by them.

According to ESPN, a forthcoming book written by Seth Wickersham details Williams and his family considering signing with the United Football League in an attempt to avoid him going to the Bears. The book is titled "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," and will be published in September.

Williams' father, Carl,  told Wickersham that "Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," highlighting his concerns with the Bears holding the first overall pick in the draft last year. While Williams seems like the answer to the Bears' quarterback problems now, he did not always feel he could find success in Chicago.

"Do I want to go there? I don't think I can do it with (former Bears offensive coordinator Shane) Waldron," Williams said, according to Wickersham.

Williams' father even spoke to Archie Manning in an attempt to control where his son would get drafted. Manning helped his son Eli Manning have some control over where he played after he was drafted.

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"Looking for a way around the league's collective bargaining agreement, Carl Williams spoke with Archie Manning, who helped Eli Manning assert a measure of control over his eventual team in 2004," wrote ESPN. "He also met with labor lawyers and agents -- and even considered whether his son could sign with the United Football League and become an unrestricted NFL free agent in 2025 to be able to pick a team."

Williams, in fact, wanted to play for the Bears' rival, the Minnesota Vikings. According to ESPN, Williams and Kevin O'Connell "hit it off" at the NFL Combine. Williams and his father knew that a trade within the division was unlikely, however. His father outlined to Wickersham that they thought they were going to have to publicly denounce the city of Chicago and the Bears.

"But Caleb was concerned that if they did try and the Bears refused to trade him, it would make a tough situation worse," wrote ESPN. "In the end, Caleb Williams told Wickersham, 'I wasn't ready to nuke the city.'

"After a predraft visit to the Bears facility, Williams believed he could be part of a process to turn the franchise around."

Williams ended up having a solid rookie season and has given Bears fans something to look forward to in 2025. He had 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He set the Bears franchise rookie passing record and capped his season off by snapping the Bears' losing streak against the Green Bay Packers.

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