For 15 minutes Wednesday afternoon, Caleb Williams worked the hardest to close the rear blanket on a story that raised the eyebrows through the NFL.
Two weeks ago, extracts from the next book by Seth Wickersham “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback” offered new details and a deeper overview of Williams to play for the Bears in Chicago before the 2024 draft.
Among the most notable revelations of the book, gathered by in -depth reports which included interviews with Williams and his father, Carl:
- After an encouraging meeting with the Vikings of Minnesota and coach Kevin O’Connell, Williams wondered in private if there was a means of engineering a profession which united him with O’Connell as an alternative to the accession to the Bears.
- The Williams have explored the possibility of spending the 2024 season in the United Football League as a way to give Caleb more control of how his career in the NFL would begin.
- Williams listened to the alternative avenues suggested from his father who would remove him from Chicago before finally declaring: “I was not ready to establish the city.”
As strong as many Bears fans were to be declared All this dismay and deliberation A non -history with regard to the 2025 team – which has a new leadership under the coach Ben Johnson – Williams was finally going to have to ask questions about the book and the resulting bustle.
Wednesday’s press conference at Halas Hall offered this opportunity.
“All this storm that occurred?” Said Williams. “It was not something we wanted to get to this stage. … It was a distraction.”
It was part of an opening declaration of 3 minutes and 54 seconds. He was followed by 11 questions to which Williams explained his reflection and clarified that all the considerations contained in the book of Wickersham were “all ideas”.
“Being able to have these thoughts is, I think, just,” said Williams.
While the 2024 predraft process continued, Williams said that he had comforted to be drafted n ° 1 by the Bears.
“I wanted to come here,” he said, “and be the guy and be a reason why the Bears of Chicago return this thing.”
On Wednesday, the 23-year-old quarterrier seemed a little nervous and somewhat embarrassed to clean a little mess that pushed a national conversation. But overall, Williams managed the conversation as expected: gently, carefully and eyes forward.
As important as anything, he made this categorical declaration: “After my arrival (predraft), visit here, it was a deliberate and determined response that I wanted to come here.”
And this one: “We are here focused on the future. We are here focused on the present and really try to advance this train, to pick up steam and chocooting.”
However, while the Bears are trying to relaunch Williams career after a turbulent season of 2024, his past remains relevant. If Williams had serious concerns about the franchise Well documented story of the failure of the quarter-arre Before his arrival-concerns that proved to be applicable during a recruit season of 5-12 during which the attacking coordinator Shane Waldron and coach Matt Eberflus were dismissed during a sequence of 10 consecutive defeats-so how will he create a more positive head space for the 2nd year to believe that his career is in good hand?
To this question, Williams did not offer the approval of the organization, rather expressing his pride of his production through the tumult of last season.
“I always have all the self-confidence,” he said. “I think my teammates believe in me. I think it is shown on the day of the match. And I think how much I like and I take care of these guys and I want to go winning the day of the match. ”
Williams also delivered an early enthusiastic evaluation of Johnson, his new head coach and playing game and the man that the Bears have chosen to help bring out the best of their starting quarter.
“He’s still focused on laser,” said Williams. “He encourages and he pushes and challenges you to be your best in a team. Violate, defense, special teams. No matter the position. (It is) sharp and it’s a guy who wants to win. And to be honest, he is in accordance with this every day.”
The link between Williams and Johnson – and how much it develops – is as important as everything in Halas Hall. And while the coach and the quarter are in the early stages of their employment relationship, Johnson has already been useful By defying Williams.
On the one hand, his offense will ask Williams to go to the center much more frequently. Johnson also asked for adjustments to Williams leg game. The process of shaping the offensive around Williams forces has only just begun.
They also had conversations on the need for Williams to improve his body language, a request that Johnson made on Wednesday.
“At the start of the process, we sat down and looked at a bunch of a year ago and we talked about it,” said Johnson. “It’s like:” Is this what we want to look like or not? ” We arrived at an agreement.
“Body language is a huge thing. Date. We do not want to be a team of palm trees where we question everything. No. No.
This type of guidance will intensify in the coming months.
As for innuendo in the extracts of books that the Williams cinema routine during his recruit season lacked advice from Eberflus and his staff, Williams also said that his article on this subject.
“It was not that I didn’t know how to watch a film,” he said. “He was trying to find the best ways and more effective ways so that I can watch more movie and I can collect more information.”
At the end of the afternoon, it was obvious that the Williams maturation process was to continue in many phases to become a quarter of the NFL.
He has also done his best to turn the page on a chapter which, according to him, should be left in the past.
“The main objective of being here is to overthrow the steam,” said Williams. “This is why I was selected n ° 1. This is what we are here to do.”
