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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is shutting down speculation about his pre-draft stance after excerpts from Seth Wickersham's book suggested he and his father considered ways to avoid being selected by the Bears. The book claimed Williams explored options such as g with the UFL or publicly criticizing the Bears to deter them from drafting him. Now entering his second season, Williams insists that those discussions were merely hypothetical and emphasizes his commitment to Chicago.
Williams addressed the situation in a press conference, stating that while he and his family weighed all possibilities, he made a deliberate decision to embrace the challenge of turning the Bears franchise around. "After I came on my visit here, it was a deliberate answer that I wanted to come here," Williams said. He acknowledged that Chicago's struggles in past seasons made his choice more compelling, and he now sees himself as a critical piece in revitalizing the team.
Williams' rookie season in Chicago was far from smooth. He endured multiple coaching changes, including the dismissal of head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron during a disappointing 5-12 season. Despite the challenges, Williams managed to throw for 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns, while limiting himself to six interceptions. However, he was sacked 47 times, exposing the offensive line issues that contributed to the Bears' struggles.
Moves to help the cause
To Williams, the Bears made significant offseason moves, particularly in rebuilding their offensive line. Additionally, Chicago hired Ben Johnson, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, as head coach. Johnson, widely regarded as one of the best offensive minds in football, is expected to bring stability and creativity to an offense in need of consistency. His presence could be a game-changer for Williams as he looks to make a major leap in Year Two.
Despite lingering speculation about his past reluctance, Williams remains focused on the present and is eager to lead the Bears toward success. "We're focused on now, we're focused on trying to get this ship moving in the right direction," he stated. He itted that the controversy surrounding Wickersham's book has been a distraction, but he wants to move forward and build a winning culture in Chicago.
With a new coaching staff, a reinforced roster, and Williams fully committed to his role, the Chicago Bears are aiming to change the narrative about their struggles at quarterback. Williams knows the franchise has long been criticized for failing to develop quarterbacks, but he is determined to break that trend. If all goes according to plan, the Bears may finally have the leader they've been searching for.