Chicago Bears GM put Caleb Williams in a hostage situation: Report

There was smoke during the 2024 scouting combine that Caleb Williams might force his way out of playing for the Chicago Bears. Caleb’s father, Carl Williams, wanted his son to land with a team that would secure a successful future for the 2023 Heisman Trophy-winner.

The Bears have a poor history of being a quarterback friendly organization. Chicago drafted Mitch Tribusky in the first round of the 2017 draft an Justin Fields in the first round of the 2021 draft. Neither re-signed with the Bears.

Caleb Williams was worried about going to the Chicago Bears

It turns out that Caleb and Carl were more than skeptical about Chicago. Per ESPN, Seth Wickersham reports in his upcoming book “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback” that Caleb was worried about a potential relationship with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in the pre-draft process.

Carl tried to “circumvent” the draft process so Caleb could join the team of his choice, which happened to be the Bears’ NFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings.

“Carl Williams was worried that, with the franchise’s history, stadium uncertainty and offensive performances under then-head coach Matt Eberflus, Caleb Williams wouldn’t have the organizational support to succeed,” Wickersham wrote. “‘I don’t want my son playing for the Bears,’ Williams told several agents in 2024.”

Ryan Poles took Williams hostage before the 2024 draft

Bears general manager wasn’t entertaining he idea of trading Williams to the Vikings, telling him Chicago would take him with the No. 1 pick “no matter what.”

Caleb didn’t want to risk calling Poles’ bluff, believing his situation would become worse if indeed Poles kept him.

Poles took Williams as a hostage, knowing the quarterback was hyped by scouts in the same category as Andrew Luck and Trevor Lawrence. Once Williams was selected by the Bears, he abandoned him with head coach Matt Eberflus and Waldron.

Waldron, whom Poles helped pick (over Kliff Kingsbury, who the Bears interviewed at USC), refused to go over tape with Williams as the rookie struggled in 2024.

Before the 2024 draft, Poles bragged that he was creating an environment that would allow a rookie quarterback to flourish. But there was a vast difference in the results in his third season with the Bears and Adam Peters’ first season as general manager with the Washington Commanders.

First-year head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kingsbury, and the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, Jayden Daniels, beat the Bears during the regular season and wound up making an NFC Championship appearance after going through a teardown in the offseason.

Poles and the Bears tried to make amends for Williams by hiring quarterback-savvy Ben Johnson for $13 million per year in January.

Happy quarterbacks don’t talk to Seth Wickersham about drama

But happy quarterbacks and their families don’t wind up in books about dysfunctional organizations written by Wickersham. Make no mistake, the Williams family made the Bears look as bad as the Bears made Williams look in 2024. And it makes one wonder if Caleb will re-sign with Chicago when he’s no longer in the 4-8 season hostage situation.

During an appearance on FS1’s “The Herd” on Thursday, Colin Cowherd asked Johnson about the report and Williams’ fears about the Bears organization. Johnson believes that Williams is “proud” to be in Chicago.

“I see a chance for greatness here for him,” Johnson said. “He’s been communicating that way, and he feels the same way. I don’t know what’s gone on prior to him joining the organization, but he is very proud to be a Chicago Bear. That’s what our conversations have included, and he’s really excited to get to work right now and be the best version of himself for 2025.”

Colin Cowherd referenced this during his interview with Ben Johnson today discussing Caleb Williams. https://t.co/KqvHJft7x6 pic.twitter.com/gAhro0KqYd

— Matt Clapp (@DaBearNecess) May 15, 2025

Poles is banking on Johnson being the final life preserver he has to use to save his job at Halas Hall. Because the trade for the haul with the Panthers in 2023 and Williams have turned into just 12 wins in the last two seasons.

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