In the months leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, speculation swirled around Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and consensus No. 1 overall pick. Most of it centered not on his abilities—those were never in question—but rather on where he would play. Specifically, whether he truly wanted to play for the Chicago Bears.
A media-fueled narrative took root: Williams might try to avoid being drafted by the Bears, following in the footsteps of past quarterbacks like Eli Manning or John Elway, who famously forced their way out of undesirable draft-day destinations. With the Bears owning the first pick—thanks to a previous trade with the Carolina Panthers—the rumor mill erupted. Was Caleb Williams trying to stay away from Chicago?
Now that he’s a Bear and has addressed the speculation head-on, we’re left asking: Was Caleb Williams ever genuinely trying to avoid Chicago? Or was this all media noise?
The Origin of the Rumors
The conversation began innocently enough in late 2023, when Williams gave interviews hinting at his desire to land in the “right situation.” He expressed admiration for NFL franchises with stability, good offensive lines, and winning cultures.
“I’ve always been about fit,” Williams said in a now-famous interview with GQ. “I’d love to go somewhere that has a stable situation, somewhere I can grow and win long-term.”
These were fairly standard quarterback pre-draft sentiments. But in the case of Williams, they were interpreted differently.
Why? Because at the time, the Bears were not seen as one of those stable situations. They had just finished a 7–10 season. Questions lingered about head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles. Despite having young talent like DJ Moore and a defense on the rise, the Bears hadn’t had a truly elite quarterback in decades. For skeptics, this was just another sign that the dysfunction might scare Williams off.
Fueling this speculation, Caleb’s father, Carl Williams, gave a candid interview in which he referenced players like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady—quarterbacks who entered good situations and thrived.
“If there’s not a good situation, the truth is he can come back to school,” Carl told The Athletic in September 2023. “He’s got that option.”
It was true. Thanks to NIL money and his endorsement value, Caleb could’ve returned to USC for another year without losing financial ground.
And just like that, the fire was lit.
A History Lesson: When Players Steer Their Destiny
The NFL is no stranger to top prospects maneuvering to avoid teams they don’t want to join.
In 1983, Stanford’s John Elway famously refused to play for the Baltimore Colts. He leveraged his potential baseball career with the Yankees as a threat and was traded to the Denver Broncos. In 2004, Eli Manning refused to play for the San Diego Chargers, leading to a draft-day trade to the New York Giants.
Those decisions altered the trajectory of franchises. So, when rumors began to swirl around Caleb Williams possibly following that mold, it wasn’t far-fetched.
Yet as the draft neared, no definitive action emerged. Williams didn’t refuse visits. He didn’t publicly criticize the Bears. He didn’t skip the NFL Combine. His camp didn’t submit any formal trade requests.
Still, skepticism lingered.
The Combine and the Chicago Visit
At the 2024 NFL Combine, Williams was all smiles. When asked about the Bears, he replied carefully but warmly.
“If they draft me, I’ll be excited. It’s an honor to be picked first overall by any team,” Williams said.
He met with the Bears, participated in their private interviews, and even visited the city of Chicago for an extended trip. Social media lit up with pictures of Williams at Giordano’s, trying deep-dish pizza and touring Soldier Field. He spent time with wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, and by all accounts, those meetings went well.
Then came a significant moment: he canceled some of his other visits with quarterback-needy teams picking lower in the draft order. That signaled that his camp believed the No. 1 pick was all but decided.
It didn’t exactly line up with the narrative of a quarterback trying to avoid Chicago.
What Caleb Williams Says Now
In an interview with NBC Sports Chicago in May 2025—just weeks after rookie mini-camp—Williams addressed the rumors that he tried to dodge the Bears.
“I never said I didn’t want to be here,” Williams said. “People ran with a lot of things that weren’t true. I wanted to go to a place where I could compete and grow. And now that I’m here, I love it.”
He elaborated: “It’s not easy being picked No. 1 and coming into a franchise that hasn’t had a lot of quarterback success. But I never shied away from the challenge. Chicago is hungry, and so am I.”
So was there any truth at all to the idea that he didn’t want to be in the Windy City?
“Look,” Williams said. “If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t have shown up. I wouldn’t have met with them. I wouldn’t be diving into the playbook or talking to my teammates every day. This is where I want to be.”
The Team’s Perspective
Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles has also downplayed any friction, telling media that Williams’ commitment and professionalism have been “off the charts.”
“We had great conversations throughout the process,” Poles said. “He wanted to understand the team and the city. That’s what any top quarterback should do. He didn’t duck any questions or hide from anything.”
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus echoed the sentiment. “Caleb’s a competitor. That’s what we need. He’s jumped in and earned the respect of the locker room.”
So if there was any hesitation early on from the Williams camp, it appears to have dissolved into enthusiasm once both sides built a relationship.
Social Media Clues
During the pre-draft speculation, some fans turned to social media to analyze Caleb Williams’ actions like private detectives. Did he “like” certain posts about the Commanders or Patriots? Did he follow Bears players?
Once drafted, those same sleuths noticed something else: Williams embraced his new team with open arms.
He posted photos of himself in Bears gear within hours of the draft. He reposted fan-made artwork, praised the city, and included “Bear Down” in his captions.
That’s not typical behavior for someone forced into a bad situation.
Why the Rumors Persisted
So if Williams never truly tried to avoid Chicago, why did the rumors persist?
Simple: the Bears have a long and complicated history with quarterbacks. They’ve drafted busts (hello, Mitch Trubisky), signed aging veterans (Jay Cutler), and rarely seen elite play at the position. Combine that with media narratives, quotes taken slightly out of context, and a father eager to protect his son’s future—and suddenly, speculation becomes perceived reality.
In truth, the idea of a player not wanting to play for a team isn’t new. But the microscope on the No. 1 overall pick—especially one as polished and media-savvy as Caleb Williams—is larger than ever in the age of social media.
The Road Ahead
Now that Williams is officially a Chicago Bear, the focus has shifted from rumors to results. Early reviews from rookie camp have been positive. He’s already shown command of the offense, leadership in the locker room, and a desire to elevate the franchise.
“I came here to win,” Williams told reporters. “Everything I’ve done—from USC to now—has been about getting better and leading a team. I’m not afraid of the challenge. I’m embracing it.”
Final Word: Was It Genuine?
In the end, it appears that Caleb Williams’ alleged attempt to avoid the Bears was overblown. While his camp may have expressed cautious optimism and a desire for the right fit, there was no concrete evidence of a holdout, refusal, or trade demand.
What we saw instead was a top-tier quarterback doing his due diligence—meeting with teams, asking questions, and weighing his options before ultimately committing to the team that drafted him.
Now, with the ink dry and the jersey printed, Williams is focused on proving that Chicago isn’t a place to avoid—it’s a place to build something special.
