ESPN Drops Bombshell with a Vikings Twist
A year ago, entering draft season, the Chicago Bears held the first overall pick they had received from the Carolina Panthers in 2023. The hot ticket in the rookie pool, obviously, was USC quarterback Caleb Williams, and he was widely expected to land in Chicago weeks and months ahead of the draft. But he was not so sure whether that was a good idea.
ESPN Drops Bombshell with Vikings Twist
For weeks, it was clear that the Bears would pick Williams to finally snap their QB curse. The passer, however, would’ve preferred other options. The Vikings were reportedly high on his list.
ESPN published an article on Thursday, referring to a book written by Seth Wickersham with the name “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback.”
The article declared: “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.”
Williams’ dad, Carl, apparently wanted to avoid the Bears, while son Caleb fell in love with another team.
Caleb told his father, “I need to go to the Vikings.” His father then agreed, but Chicago shut it down. Ryan Poles, Chicago’s GM, said, “We’re drafting you no matter what.”
So let’s dive deeper into the story.
Why the Vikings?
Well, everyone loves head coach Kevin O’Connell. He is a likable character and has earned the QB whisperer label over the last few years.
The Vikings did their due diligence regarding all the quarterbacks ahead of the 2024 draft, knowing they need a succession plan for Kirk Cousins, whether the aging passer would return for a seventh season or not. Williams met with the brass at the scouting combine.
That’s when the aforementioned conversation between Williams the younger and Williams the elder took place.
Indeed, Minnesota was viewed at that time, and still is, a wonderful destination for any quarterback, but especially a rookie. O’Connell can mentor any signal-caller, the offensive line has two outstanding offensive tackles, and throwing to Justin Jefferson makes a passer’s job easy.
The club then drafted J.J. McCarthy. He was not surrounded by as much buzz, but O’Connell and everyone else are excited to see what he can do in his second season.
Nuking Chicago?
According to the article, the Williamses were contemplating pulling every possible lever.
Before the draft, Carl Williams said, “Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die.”
Undoubtedly, it hasn’t been a paradise for quarterbacks. It’s easy to make the argument that Jay Cutler has been Chicago’s best thrower in decades. The last high draft picks, Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields, didn’t work out.
Another angle was that Matt Eberflus was viewed as a lame duck coach. The Bears fired him after the Thanksgiving disaster. They also parted ways with the previous head coaches shortly after drafting Trubisky and Fields, showing some obvious dysfunction and a terrible way to grow a young quarterback.
ESPN noted: “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.”
They then talked to Archie Manning, who helped Eli pick his team in 2004, consulted lawyers, and even considered playing in the UFL for a year to then become a free agent in 2025.
The father-son duo reached the conclusion that a public attack on the Chicago Bears would be the only way out, but Caleb wasn’t ready. He’s quoted as saying, “I wasn’t ready to nuke the city.”
After his pre-draft visit in Chicago, Williams decided to become a Bear.
Regardless, that book is a mini-disaster for the Bears and a little sweetener for the Vikings.
Week 1 Thriller
Williams lost both games against the purple rivals in his rookie season. He showed promise and had the normal rookie struggles. The underwhelming offensive line and the coaching firing didn’t do him any favors.
This year, he will play under former Lions coach and new Bears head coach Ben Johnson. He turned Jared Goff into one of the best players in football, has been a nightmare for Brian Flores, and Caleb will have the benefit of playing behind a fixed offensive line.
In Week 1, the Vikes will travel to Chicago to play a Monday Night Football Game at Soldier Field. It could be the first of many duels between McCarthy and Williams, the two young quarterbacks of the two NFC North rivals.