Skip to main content

The Shocking Real Reason Caleb Williams Wanted to Be a Minnesota Viking—New Details Emerge

Posted on May 20, 2025 - 2:09 am by

In the world of American football, behind-the-scenes stories about NFL Draft decisions always captivate fans. Recently, a shocking detail was revealed in Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback, about the true desires of Caleb Williams, the quarterback selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead of being eager to join the Chicago Bears, the team that drafted him, Williams had his heart set on playing for the Minnesota Vikings, a rival in the NFC North. These new details not only shed light on the reasons behind Williams’ preference but also raise questions about his future in Chicago.

A Fateful Meeting with Kevin O’Connell

The story begins at the 2024 NFL Combine, where Caleb Williams had the chance to meet Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. According to Wickersham, this encounter left a profound impression on Williams. O’Connell, a former college quarterback with experience working alongside top NFL offensive minds and a Super Bowl winner, quickly connected with the young star from USC. “When Caleb met O’Connell, he saw a guy who started at quarterback for four years in college, was a teammate of Tom Brady, learned from great coaches, and was becoming a great coach in Minnesota,” Wickersham writes.

This impression led Williams to tell his father, Carl Williams, “I need to go to the Vikings.” His father, Carl, supported the idea, responding, “Make it happen.” However, both understood that a trade with a divisional rival like the Vikings was nearly impossible, especially with the Bears holding the No. 1 pick.

Chicago Bears: “Where Quarterbacks Go to Die”

Williams’ desire to join the Vikings wasn’t just about his admiration for O’Connell; he also had deep concerns about the Chicago Bears. His father, Carl, was blunt in his assessment: “Chicago is where quarterbacks go to die.” The Bears’ history seemed to validate this fear. First-round quarterbacks like Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields failed to develop into the stars expected of them, partly due to inconsistent coaching and lackluster offensive support. Carl even reached out to Archie Manning, who famously helped his son Eli avoid being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2004, to explore ways for Caleb to control his draft destination.

Caleb himself expressed doubts about working with Shane Waldron, the Bears’ offensive coordinator at the time. “I don’t think I can do it with Waldron,” he confided to those close to him. The 2024 season proved these concerns were not unfounded. Waldron was fired in November 2024 after the Bears endured a streak of 25 consecutive offensive drives without a touchdown. Williams also found himself watching game film alone, without sufficient guidance from the coaching staff. “Nobody told me what to watch,” he told his father. “I just turned it on myself.”

A Trade That Could Never Happen

Despite his desire to play for the Vikings, Williams and his father considered bold strategies to avoid being drafted by the Bears. They contemplated publicly criticizing the Bears and the city of Chicago, similar to how John Elway handled the Baltimore Colts in 1983, to pressure the Bears into passing on him. Carl even explored the possibility of Caleb signing with the United Football League (UFL) to become a free agent in 2025 and choose his team. Ultimately, Williams decided against “burning the city down” and chose to embrace the challenge in Chicago. After visiting the Bears’ facilities before the draft, he told his father, “I can make it work for this team. I’m going to the Bears.”

Meanwhile, Bears general manager Ryan Poles stood firm: “We’re taking you no matter what.” This stance ended any hope of a trade to the Vikings. Instead, the Vikings made a move to jump to the 10th overall pick, selecting quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Michigan.

A Tantalizing “What If” Scenario

Had the Bears agreed to a trade and allowed Williams to join the Vikings, the NFL landscape might have looked very different. According to an analysis from Sports Illustrated, such a deal could have netted the Bears a haul of valuable assets, including players like Jordan Addison, Abdul Carter, Brock Bowers, Bo Nix, and future first- and second-round picks. With the Vikings’ potent offense, featuring star Justin Jefferson and an offensive line that allowed quarterback Kirk Cousins to be sacked only 28 times in 2024 (compared to Williams’ 68 sacks with the Bears), Williams’ rookie season could have been far more successful.

However, this scenario raises other questions. Without Williams, the Bears might not have fired head coach Matt Eberflus and Waldron midseason. Meanwhile, the Vikings might not have seen the breakout performance of Sam Darnold, who led the team to a 12-2 record in 2024.

Williams’ Future in Chicago

Despite his initial reluctance to join the Bears, Williams has shown commitment to the team. His rookie season was far from easy, with 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions, but he also endured an NFL-high 68 sacks. However, the Bears have made significant changes for the 2025 season, including bolstering their offensive line with additions like Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson, as well as hiring new head coach Ben Johnson, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.

Johnson has expressed confidence in Williams, emphasizing that he is “proud to be a Chicago Bear” and “eager to start working to become the best version of himself in 2025.” These changes offer hope that Williams can overcome his early struggles and become the quarterback to lead the Bears to success, rather than another victim of the team’s troubled history.

Conclusion

The revelations from American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback have illuminated a dramatic chapter in Caleb Williams’ journey to the NFL. His desire to play for the Minnesota Vikings not only reflects his admiration for Kevin O’Connell but also highlights deep concerns about the Chicago Bears. Though he ultimately accepted his fate, Williams chose to face the challenge head-on and may now stand on the cusp of transforming the Bears’ legacy. With the 2025 season opener pitting the Bears against the Vikings at Soldier Field, fans will eagerly watch to see if Williams can prove he can shine even in circumstances he initially didn’t want.