The Bears are expected to be much better in 2025, but can they do that without significant growth from Caleb Williams?

With Williams being the clear-cut top pick coming out of USC, Carl told several agents in 2024 he didn’t want his son to play for the Bears, who had the No. 1 pick. Part of his efforts to avoid Chicago included consulting Archie Manning, father of Eli Manning, who helped orchestrate Eli’s trade from the San Diego Chargers to the New York Giants.

In 2024, quarterback Caleb Williams and his dad were so determined to avoid being drafted by the Chicago Bears that the duo thought about signing with the United Football League, asked legal experts about avoiding the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and considered avoiding the draft entirely,