Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams reportedly tried to avoid going to the team prior to being selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to a new book.

Williams, 23, and his family reportedly weighed his NFL Draft situation, which included consulting with lawyers about a potential collective bargaining agreement, as well as considering signing with the United Football League, according to the upcoming book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback by author Seth Wickersham.

"Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," said Carl Williams, in the months before the 2024 NFL Draft in the book via ESPN.

"Do I want to go there? I don't think I can do it with [former Bears offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron," Caleb Williams wondered to his confidants at the time.

Caleb's father went to great lengths to have his son avoid being drafted by the Bears, acknowledging the team's lack of success drafting past quarterbacks including Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields.

"I don't want my son playing for the Bears," he told several agents prior to the draft via ESPN.

Caleb met with and apparently preferred Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.

"I need to go to the Vikings," he told his father.

"Let's do it," his father replied.

The Bears, however, were set on taking the former Heisman Trophy winner, with general manager Ryan Poles telling him, "We're drafting you no matter what."

Caleb eventually changed course after a pre-draft visit to the Bears' facility.

"I can do it for this team," Caleb told his dad. "I'm going to go to the Bears."

Williams was also excited about the Bears' recent hiring of former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach.

"Being able to be in this position, being able to have a first year the way I did, ups and downs, and then to be able come in here, be as confident as I was last year or possibly even more and to be able to get here with the group that we have, I really can't wait to get to work with these guys," he said via ESPN.

Williams threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions on 351 of 562 passing, while leading the Bears to a 5-12 record during his rookie season.

"Him pushing me is key," Williams said of Johnson via ESPN. "I know that, and he knows that. ... I can't wait and to be able to help me learn more about ball because he's super smart, super sharp."

Outkick the Coverage