Did Caleb Williams try to dodge Bears? NFL analyst sounds alarm

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is under the spotlight after a new book revealed he and his father once tried to avoid being drafted by the team. The claims have sparked major discussion across the NFL. Now, a former player has shared a worrying prediction about Williams’ future in Chicago, adding more pressure to the young quarterback’s second season.


Caleb Williams facing doubts from former NFL player after book claims

Former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker raised concerns about Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during a live interview on Friday, May 17, 2025. Speaking on 670 The Score, a Chicago-based sports radio station, Tucker said he would not bet on Williams still being the starting quarterback for the Bears in the next three years.


This came just days after a report from ESPN on May 15, 2025, revealed controversial claims from Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book, American Kings : A Biography of the Quarterback.

REPORT: According to upcoming book, Caleb Williams did not want to play ... https://t.co/YvrXs7Mslc via @YouTube

— Sports Talk Chicago (@sportstalkchi) May 23, 2025

The book says Caleb Williams and his father, Carl Williams, looked into ways to avoid being drafted by the Chicago Bears before the 2024 NFL Draft . Williams was later picked first overall by the Bears in April 2024.



“I probably would bet ‘No’ if I had to bet yes or no right now just based on what we’ve seen so far,” Ross Tucker said on air. The segment was also shared in a report by Gene Chamberlain of Sports Illustrated.



Also Read: Caleb Williams Didn't Want To Play For The Chicago Bears, Dad Slammed Team, Reveals New Book


Caleb Williams yet to speak out as Bears try to move forward


So far, Caleb Williams has not responded to the controversy. He has not held any press conference or made public comments about the story or the book. Former player Ross Tucker criticized this silence.



Speaking on Friday, May 17, Tucker said, “He should have, Monday, come on and said, ‘Yeah, my dad was talking to someone back then. We had some concerns. But when I visited Halas Hall, I changed my mind.’ Boom. It’s over.” Tucker also questioned why Williams would allow a writer to include such a sensitive detail in a book, calling it a “really poor decision.”



First-year head coach Ben Johnson tried to downplay the situation. On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, he said Williams “is very proud to be” part of the Bears. Johnson added, “We’re both focused on the here and now.”



Williams is entering his second NFL season, and fans are beginning to question his long-term commitment. With media attention growing, it remains unclear how this will affect his standing inside the locker room or with the franchise moving forward.