Caleb Williams believes he can win with the Chicago Bears.
That note, provided in Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book along with the other, more polarizing remarks about Williams’ pre-draft hesitation about joining the Bears, has been overshadowed.
The conversation has turned into a matter of right or wrong on Williams’ camp’s behalf and a referendum on the Bears before he (and head coach Ben Johnson) arrived. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio detailed on May 25 how Williams’ case is another example of the duality of the Draft.
Florio wrote that the frenzy that has followed Wickersham’s revelation is telling for another QB.
Backlash Toward Bears QB Caleb Williams Telling for Arch Manning
Archie Manning Could Do What Bears QB Caleb Williams Would Not
Florio also wondered how the next projected No. 1 QB, Arch Manning, grandson of Archie and nephew of Eli, would approach a situation similar to Williams’ with the Bears last spring.
“First, Arch has to emerge as the top prospect in his draft class, whenever that may be. Second, a team for which he doesn’t want to play needs to have dibs on him. Third, Arch needs to be willing to say no — either on his own or under the cover of Uncle Eli or Uncle Peyton or his grandfather, Archie, or some combination of the three.
“If the various planets line up perfectly, what will Arch do? Accept his fate with a dysfunctional team (like Archie did) or exert his leverage (like Eli did)?”
If Manning simply acquiesces, Florio doubts another prospect would ever challenge again.
Notably, the Bears opted against having Williams speak after the first organized team activity that was made open to the media. It remains to be seen if he will take the podium during their next session this coming week. Again, though, Williams came away from his visit to Halas Hall a believer in the vision.
Bears QB Caleb Williams Facing Different Scrutiny Than Predecessors
Florio noted the measures that Williams and his father, Carl, explored to avoid the Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft. Among them, publicly bashing the Bears and the city of Chicago a la John Elway (1983). Per the book, Williams did not want to “nuke” the city.
The only other QB to successfully pull off such a move was Eli Manning.
Then, Manning’s father, Archie Manning, exerted their leverage, similar to Elway. Elway had baseball to fall back on against the then-Baltimore Colts.
The Mannings threatened to sit out the entire season and re-enter the draft the following year to avoid the then-San Diego Chargers. Ultimately, Elway (Denver Broncos) and Manning (New York Giants) landed at their preferred destinations.
At one point, Williams’ preferred destination was the Minnesota Vikings.
Florio noted that in the current media (traditional and social) climate, Williams would have been a “punching bag” had he decided to follow through with his desire to avoid the Bears.