Latest news with #SethWickersham
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New book adds wrinkle to QB drama in NFC North and 2024 NFL Draft class
The NFL Draft is the best thing we have in sports, outside of the Super Bowl. You know why? There is no better reality show because it checks all the boxes you want. It's a game of chance, skills, and critical thinking that all can still need to have more luck than anything when it is all said and done. Case in point, we are over a year removed from the 2024 NFL Draft and we are hearing new details about the draft process for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Advertisement In a new book written by Seth Wickersham titled, "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," details are shared about the mindset of Williams and his father, Carl. Details include everything from questions surrounding Shane Waldron and Matt Eberflus to even trying to work there way out of Chicago. Ironically, the Vikings played a major role in making things more difficult, as the book details, according to an ESPN report. "After an up-and-down final season at USC, Caleb Williams was unsure of what he wanted to do as he prepared for the 2024 draft. At the NFL combine that year, he met with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. The two hit it off, and Caleb Williams began to dream of what it would be like to play for Minnesota." It peaked when Caleb Williams said, "I need to go to the Vikings," to which his father said, "Let's do it." Advertisement Obviously, the Bears drafted Caleb Williams, and there are more details as to how rocky that year was for him. Of course, the Vikings went with J.J. McCarthy, and they seem perfectly happy with him on their roster and are ready to roll with him in 2025 and beyond. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: New book adds drama to Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy, and NFC North
Washington Post
4 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Bears QB Caleb Williams addresses controversy from book excerpt
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sought to quiet the controversy about how he hadn't wanted to come to his current team prior to the 2024 draft. Williams admitted an ESPN story about an upcoming book by Seth Wickersham on quarterbacks was true in that he did like the idea of going to the Minnesota Vikings initially, but this was prior to his first visit to Chicago. Then, Williams said, he wanted to be with the Bears.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Bears QB Caleb Williams addresses controversy from book excerpt
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sought to quiet the controversy about how he hadn't wanted to come to his current team prior to the 2024 draft. Williams admitted an ESPN story about an upcoming book by Seth Wickersham on quarterbacks was true in that he did like the idea of going to the Minnesota Vikings initially, but this was prior to his first visit to Chicago. Then, Williams said, he wanted to be with the Bears. 'Yeah, I had a good visit at the other place — Minnesota, with (coach) Kevin O'Connell,' Williams said. 'Good staff and all of that obviously. He just won the coach of the year award and things like that. Obviously, good staff and things like that. 'But something that keeps getting lost, something that keeps getting, I think, not being addressed the way it needs to be is the fact that I went on that visit first, came here and then after I came here, I went back home and talked to my dad.' His comment to his father, Carl Williams, was he wanted to play for the Bears and become the quarterback who leads them out of a history of struggling quarterbacks. 'This whole storm that happened, it wasn't something that we wanted to have happen at this point,' Williams said during a news conference Wednesday during the Bears OTAs. 'We're focused on the present, we're focused on now, we're focused on trying to get this ship moving in the right direction. And I think so far that's what we've been doing. 'But for this to come out it's been a distraction.' The book, 'American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,' looks at many QBs but Williams' part details how he and his father thought about the possibility of finding a way to circumvent the NFL draft in 2024 to avoid coming to Chicago. Williams labeled any of the early discussion as mere thoughts, not action. 'Those are thoughts that go throughout your head in those situations,' Williams said. 'All of those are thoughts. And then after I came on my visit here, it was a deliberate answer and deliberate and determined answer that I had is that I wanted to come here.' The Bears quarterback saw most of what had been written as ancient history, but did label one aspect of an ESPN story on the book as false or misinterpreted. It was a claim he didn't know how to watch film and the Bears staff under former coach Matt Eberflus failed to help him. 'So that was a funny one that came out, that in context, in how that was trying to be portrayed, didn't get portrayed that way,' Williams said. 'It wasn't that I didn't know how to watch film, it was trying to figure on the best ways and more efficient ways.' Williams expects new coach Ben Johnson will make a difference in his film watching. 'He's been in this offense for six years,' Williams said. 'He's really been on top of it and we're really only trying to catch up, I'm only trying to catch up to him and be on top of the details as much as possible.' Williams said his father's input was valued and always is, but in the case of the book he probably went too far or wasn't entirely clear with some comments made. 'Definitely a grown man, I shut him down quite a lot just because in season and out of season, it's something you have to do,' Williams said. 'He cares so much about me and my future and we have been along this journey so long together, all he wants is the best for me. 'So if anything happens and he's super hot-headed and it's more of like 'All right, go ahead and go away. Go reset.' Things like that. Love him to death and things like that, super fortunate to have him. We have talked about it. Understanding that there's a right place and a right time and there are times that there is not.' The book is scheduled to be released Sept. 9, a day after the Bears open the season against the Vikings in a home Monday night game to be televised by ESPN. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears coach praises Caleb Williams while QB stays quiet in wake of book excerpt
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson smiles as he talks to media at a news conference after NFL football practice in Lake Forest, Ill., Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson smiles as he talks to media at a news conference after NFL football practice in Lake Forest, Ill., Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — New Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson praised Caleb Williams while the quarterback remained mum Wednesday in the wake of a book excerpt detailing how the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and his father wanted nothing to do with the founding NFL franchise leading up to last year's draft. The account of the Williamses' feelings about the Bears in 'American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback' by author Seth Wickersham was reported by ESPN last week. Johnson said Caleb Williams gave no indication he would rather play elsewhere when they discussed it. Advertisement 'I can't speak too much in terms of what it was like before he got here and when he got here last year, but from my four months on the job, he's been outstanding to work with and we just are focusing on getting a little better every day," Johnson said. The Bears did not make Williams available to reporters following their workout. In the book, Wickersham describes how Williams and his father, Carl Williams, asked attorneys to find a workaround to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, explored signing with the United Football League and considered publicly ripping Chicago and the Bears to create an untenable situation for the team. 'Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,' Carl Williams said ahead of the draft, according to the book. Advertisement Johnson grinned when asked about that comment. 'I love it. I love it,' he said when asked about Carl Williams' comment. 'I love the opportunity to come on in and change that narrative. That's where great stories are written. So, we're looking to write a new chapter here — 2025 Chicago Bears — and looking forward to the future.' Wickersham reported Caleb Williams indicated to confidantes he didn't think he could work with then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Bears general manager Ryan Poles told Williams, 'We're drafting you no matter what.' Williams resigned himself to being selected by Chicago with the No. 1 pick, and after a pre-draft visit to the team facility, he believed he could help lead a turnaround. Advertisement Williams threw for 20 touchdowns, was intercepted six times and took a franchise-record and league-leading 68 sacks as a rookie. The Bears lost 10 straight and finished last in the NFC North at 5-12. They fired Waldron after nine games and let coach Matt Eberflus go after a loss at Detroit on Thanksgiving. 'I think every single day he's trying to get better," safety Kevin Byard said. 'He's still a really good, talented young quarterback in this league and he's trying to get better every day, and that's all I see from him. Just working every single day, staying late, obviously meeting with Ben and all those guys. We're trying to right the ship.' Chicago landed the top coaching candidate on the market in January when Johnson agreed to take the job after spending three seasons as the Lions' offensive coordinator. Williams said at the time he was 'insanely excited' when he found out. The Bears also overhauled their offensive line in an effort to give their quarterback the protection he needs. The most notable move was a trade with Kansas City for two-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, who finalized a two-year, $35 million contract extension on Wednesday. Advertisement 'You can just feel from every position group — from offense, defense, special teams — just the desire, the push to keep working, keep getting better, keep improving,' he said. Thuney likes what he's seeing from Williams. 'He works really hard,' he said. 'You can tell how much he cares about this sport, and he's always in here. Whenever I come in, I see him. He's been doing great, and so far so good.' ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Bears coach praises Caleb Williams while QB stays quiet in wake of book excerpt
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — New Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson praised Caleb Williams while the quarterback remained mum Wednesday in the wake of a book excerpt detailing how the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and his father wanted nothing to do with the founding NFL franchise leading up to last year's draft. The account of the Williamses' feelings about the Bears in 'American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback' by author Seth Wickersham was reported by ESPN last week. Johnson said Caleb Williams gave no indication he would rather play elsewhere when they discussed it. 'I can't speak too much in terms of what it was like before he got here and when he got here last year, but from my four months on the job, he's been outstanding to work with and we just are focusing on getting a little better every day,' Johnson said. The Bears did not make Williams available to reporters following their workout. In the book, Wickersham describes how Williams and his father, Carl Williams, asked attorneys to find a workaround to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, explored signing with the United Football League and considered publicly ripping Chicago and the Bears to create an untenable situation for the team. 'Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,' Carl Williams said ahead of the draft, according to the book. Johnson grinned when asked about that comment. 'I love it. I love it,' he said when asked about Carl Williams' comment. 'I love the opportunity to come on in and change that narrative. That's where great stories are written. So, we're looking to write a new chapter here — 2025 Chicago Bears — and looking forward to the future.' Wickersham reported Caleb Williams indicated to confidantes he didn't think he could work with then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Bears general manager Ryan Poles told Williams, 'We're drafting you no matter what.' Williams resigned himself to being selected by Chicago with the No. 1 pick, and after a pre-draft visit to the team facility, he believed he could help lead a turnaround. Williams threw for 20 touchdowns, was intercepted six times and took a franchise-record and league-leading 68 sacks as a rookie. The Bears lost 10 straight and finished last in the NFC North at 5-12. They fired Waldron after nine games and let coach Matt Eberflus go after a loss at Detroit on Thanksgiving. 'I think every single day he's trying to get better,' safety Kevin Byard said. 'He's still a really good, talented young quarterback in this league and he's trying to get better every day, and that's all I see from him. Just working every single day, staying late, obviously meeting with Ben and all those guys. We're trying to right the ship.' Chicago landed the top coaching candidate on the market in January when Johnson agreed to take the job after spending three seasons as the Lions' offensive coordinator. Williams said at the time he was 'insanely excited' when he found out. The Bears also overhauled their offensive line in an effort to give their quarterback the protection he needs. The most notable move was a trade with Kansas City for two-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, who finalized a two-year, $35 million contract extension on Wednesday. 'You can just feel from every position group — from offense, defense, special teams — just the desire, the push to keep working, keep getting better, keep improving,' he said. Thuney likes what he's seeing from Williams. 'He works really hard,' he said. 'You can tell how much he cares about this sport, and he's always in here. Whenever I come in, I see him. He's been doing great, and so far so good.' ___ AP NFL:
