The 2024 NFL draft was a significant event for Caleb Williams, but it was also marked by family concerns. His father, Carl Williams, went to great lengths to try and circumvent the draft process, wanting to give his son the freedom to choose where he wanted to start his pro career.
Family Concerns
- The family consulted with lawyers and considered skipping the 2024 NFL Draft altogether.
- They were worried about Chicago’s history of struggling at quarterback and whether Caleb would have access to resources and organizational support if he played for them.
- The Bears hadn’t drafted a star quarterback since Jim McMahon in 1982.
Carl’s concerns were not unfounded. He worried that playing under then-head coach Matt Eberflus would be detrimental to his son’s career. Eberflus had been coaching in Chicago since January 31, 2023, but was fired on November 27 after another loss.
Coaching Changes
- Thomas Brown took over as interim head coach when Eberflus left but wasn’t retained.
- Ben Johnson will now call plays for Chicago next season.
Caleb had expressed interest in playing for the Minnesota Vikings after hitting it off with head coach Kevin O’Connell at the Combine. However, Bears GM Ryan Poles told Caleb, "We’re drafting you no matter what."
Draft Day Considerations
Carl spoke with Archie Manning about potential draft day trade options between teams. He expressed frustration with the rookie wage cap, which locks players into teams that drafted them up through age 28 via franchise tags unless they sign extensions or opt-out.
"This is unconstitutional," Carl said. "It’s probably worse than anything I’ve ever seen…it’s bad enough that we need another law against people making money."
This situation led Carl to weigh options like having his son skip college altogether and sign a UFL contract instead. This would allow Caleb to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, giving him a chance to pick his own destination rather than being stuck in Chicago.
Decision Against Skipping College
Williams ultimately decided against skipping college due partly to NCAA rules regarding professional football leagues outside of their jurisdiction.
"I don’t think there are any other sports where you can make millions of dollars without going through an organization," he said.
Williams has yet to decide whether or not he will play football again this fall, despite saying last month he’d return if there were no issues surrounding him being drafted by Chicago.
"It depends on how things go this summer," Williams said last month when asked about returning this fall. "I’m just taking things one step at a time right now."
Broader Implications
In addition to these personal concerns, there are broader implications surrounding player rights in professional sports leagues such as the NFL. As one source close to Archie Manning noted:
"If they’re going to lock you into something until age 28 without giving you any say-so, then why do we even have free agency?"
This raises important questions about fairness, equality, and player autonomy within professional sports leagues—issues that may continue to be debated in the years to come.
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