Caleb Williams didn’t want to play for the Chicago Bears. His father, Carl Williams, made that point clear to NFL agents and even the team itself.

The legacy franchise’s quarterback development history was lackluster at best, and Carl Williams didn’t want his son’s career to start off rough, with the Bears holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

He explored ways to circumvent the draft process. He considered going nuclear in the press, as John Elway’s family and Eli Manning’s crew had done in the past, to steer Caleb away from Chicago.

Then Caleb took a pre-draft visit to Halas Hall. He left that experience wanting to try a different tact.

“I can do it for this team,” he told his dad. “I’m going to go to the Bears.”

All that is part of Seth Wickersham’s latest book, “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,” which won’t be released until September. 

Marquee Sports Network wasn’t given an advance copy of the book, but ESPN, which employs Wickersham, published an article with quotes from it and detailing Williams’ initial aversion to the Bears.

Williams feels differently about his opportunity now that Ben Johnson has taken over as the Bears’ head coach. Some of the QB’s trepidation regarding Chicago was related to then-head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

Per Wickersham, Caleb Williams told those close to him: “Do I want to go there? I don’t think I can do it with Waldron.”

That led Carl Williams into discussions with Archie Manning, who helped his son, Eli, avoid playing for the then-San Diego Chargers. Carl Williams considered having Caleb skip the draft and sign with the United Football League. They also considered working a way to have Williams land with the Minnesota Vikings, led by head coach Kevin O’Connell, via trade.

All that seemed unlikely, though, punctuated by the fact that Bears general manager Ryan Poles told Williams, “We’re drafting you no matter what,” per Wickersham.

While Caleb Williams eventually was convinced to join the Bears, his concerns about Waldron later were validated. Williams told his father, per Wickersham, that he’d often watch film alone.

“No one tells me what to watch,” Caleb said. “I just turn it on.”

Waldron was fired in October, and Eberflus was let go the next month, marking the first time the Bears had fired people at those positions in their history. Williams, meanwhile, set the Bears record for passing yards by a rookie with 3,541. He also threw for 20 touchdowns with just six interceptions, but he was sacked 68 times.

Johnson has set a different tone and created optimism for Williams about his future with the franchise. Williams said last season that not everyone can coach him, but Johnson seems like a solid fit. The coach said in his introductory press conference that Williams was an attraction in him selecting Chicago over other opportunities.

The Bears added heft to their offensive line and skilled playmakers through free agency and the draft, surrounding Williams with the talent and schematics required to succeed.

“He said he’s going to hold me accountable and said ‘I want you to hold me accountable’ for a multitude of things,” Williams said of Johnson in January. “We talked about other things about my play, what he’s excited about and what he wants to change and correct, and if not change and correct but just (be) better.”