Bears 2025

[Bash Riprock]

So Caleb and Dad didn't want to be drafted by the Bears??  Interesting read, although looks like he eventually found peace with being picked by Chicago.........

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45161794/caleb-williams-sought-way-going-chicago-bears

 

Excerpts from the article....

Quarterback Caleb Williams was so concerned about being picked by the Chicago Bears in 2024 that he and his family weighed circumventing the entire NFL draft, consulting with lawyers to figure out a way around the league's collective bargaining agreement while considering signing with the United Football League, details from a forthcoming book reveal.

"Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," Carl Williams, Caleb's father, told Seth Wickersham, author of "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," in the months before the 2024 draft.

Caleb Williams wondered aloud to confidants: "Do I want to go there? I don't think I can do it with [former Bears offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron."

Carl Williams went to great lengths to try to circumvent the NFL draft, Wickersham writes, wanting to give his son an opportunity to choose his future employer. The Bears had not drafted a star quarterback since the 1980s, and their recent draft selections, Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields, didn't pan out. Carl Williams was worried that, with the franchise's history, stadium uncertainty and offensive performances under then-head coach Matt Eberflus, Caleb Williams wouldn't have the organizational support to succeed.

"I don't want my son playing for the Bears," Williams told several agents in 2024.

"The rookie cap is just unconstitutional," Carl Williams told Wickersham, later adding that the CBA is the "worst piece of s--- I've ever read. It's the worst in sports history."

After an up-and-down final season at USC, Caleb Williams was unsure of what he wanted to do as he prepared for the 2024 draft. At the NFL combine that year, he met with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. The two hit it off, and Caleb Williams began to dream of what it would be like to play for Minnesota.

"I need to go to the Vikings," he told his father.

"Let's do it," his father replied. But both Caleb and Carl knew that a trade to a divisional rival was extremely unlikely.

Bears GM Ryan Poles stood firm, telling Williams, "We're drafting you no matter what."

That left one option: To publicly attack the Bears and the city of Chicago, hoping that it would make the situation untenable -- similar to what Jack and John Elway had done with the Baltimore Colts in 1983.

"He's worried about me taking bullets," Carl Williams told Wickersham of his son. "I don't care. I just don't agree with this s---, you know? I'm more interested in making sure that he can do what he wants to do."

But Caleb was concerned that if they did try and the Bears refused to trade him, it would make a tough situation worse. In the end, Caleb Williams told Wickersham, "I wasn't ready to nuke the city."

After a predraft visit to the Bears facility, Williams believed he could be part of a process to turn the franchise around.

"I can do it for this team," Caleb told his dad. "I'm going to go to the Bears."

 

[Coach Nowlin]

When you write a book you find the most sensationalized headline there is........

Selling 101 

I will say, the info on Bears staff and Waldron is/was SPOT ON, so there is that.  

I like to live my life by moving forward....that is what I am doing with all this fart noise too, moving forward 

Which means I sold 3 games last night and recovered $1200 so far.   

[Bash Riprock]

1 hour ago, Coach Nowlin said:

When you write a book you find the most sensationalized headline there is........

Selling 101 

I will say, the info on Bears staff and Waldron is/was SPOT ON, so there is that.  

I like to live my life by moving forward....that is what I am doing with all this fart noise too, moving forward 

Which means I sold 3 games last night and recovered $1200 so far.   

No disagreement...I realize ESPN like to sell as well....and in their minds as well as media in general negativity sells. (perhaps sadly true)

I still think the Colts and Bears should trade Caleb for AR straight up.......😁

[Coach Nowlin]

https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/news/caleb-williams-disses-chicago-bears-in-forthcoming-book-and-here-s-why-you-shouldn-t-care

 

 

Quote

 

Caleb’s Toddlin’ Town

After noting that Williams hoped to play with the Minnesota Vikings, Wickersham punctuated the episode quoting Caleb as telling his father, “"I can do it for [Chicago]. I'm going to go to the Bears."

 

 

7 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

 

I still think the Colts and Bears should trade Caleb for AR straight up.......😁

AR doesn't paint his nails...... I knew you would understand that the choice of fashion has zero bearing on on field production !!     😎😂

[Boilernation]

Feels like this story confirms at least 2 things:

1. The Beears were completely disfunctional last year
2. Cowherd was correct from the beginning when he reported his sources said Caleb didn't want to go to Chicago.

[Bash Riprock]

Dang Boomer…how do you really feel about CW??

 

[Bobref]

I should have posted this in the “In Memoriam” thread … but this seemed fitting. R.I.P. George Wendt. Most famous for his role in Cheers. But fans of a certain NFL team, from a certain city … know him as Bill Swerski, #1 fan of “Da’ Bears.”

 

Edited May 20, 2025 by Bobref

[Coach Nowlin]

Just tremendous entertainment from Cheers to SNL !!    I need to spend some time at 2nd City in Chicago, some great talents over the years come out of there

 

 

[Boilernation]

@Coach Nowlin @Bobref

I heard a good segment on Carmen and Jurko today with Adam Jahns. They were both talking about being all in on Johnson and Carmen said he's worried he's back to where he was when Bears insiders were telling him how great they would be with Fox. He said insiders are now telling him that going after the most coveted offensive mind on the market AND paying him as his insiders believing Johnson and the people he's brought in with him are too good to flop. 

Jahns followed by saying he has noticed a distinct change in coaching style compared to what he's ever seen at Halas Hall. He said Johnson was constantly yelling at Fields to get through his checkdowns faster and stop holding the ball as well as yelling at Kmet to play better. Ding that to the 2 offensive players most in need of improving next year? In April? That's not normal for Halas Hall.

[Bobref]

2 hours ago, Boilernation said:

yelling at Fields

😂🤣😅

[Boilernation]

48 minutes ago, Bobref said:

😂🤣😅

Haha. Man. Please don't let it be a repeat of Fields. 

[Coach Nowlin]

From all things considered he is restored. The order and that there is a true man in the room who is holding people accountable.   Refreshing

[Bash Riprock]

No holding back….

 

[Boilernation]

23 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

No holding back….

 

I remember Johnson telling the players in attendance at his first presser to be ready to be uncomfortable. That's exactly what they're doing to Caleb.

[Boilernation]

Good insight here from DJ on the accountability Johnson brings to the table. Johnson ripped into Burden today and kicked him out of a drill. 
 

 

[Coach Nowlin]

accountability is a beautiful thing in athletics, especially at the professional level 

 

[Coach Nowlin]

Really hope the Austin Booker can do much the same agianst OL with pulse in a few weeks.   Has a chance !! 

 

[Boilernation]

Leave you feelings at the door. Wow! This coaching staff doesn’t mess around. Moved Wright and Jones to 2nd string in practice reps yesterday. Icing on the cake was OL coach publicly calling out Wright for not being consistent and reverting back to bad habits. Could just be mental, but he seemed to be indicating Wright isn’t in the best shape stamina wise.

[Coach Nowlin]

It is what Accountability looks like when Leaders are in charge. 

refreshing 

[Coach Nowlin]

Glad to see that Bears #1 offense could shred like they should a group of 2nd/3rd tier defenders for Buffalo.  If they struggled that would be BAD sign, but they were effecient and #18 was on schedule with every throw.   Outstanding work

 

Hope Booker isn't dinged up too bad.   Nasty stunt for his 4th sack in 2 games against a Tackle Guard who had no chance on that stunt

 

[Boilernation]

21 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Glad to see that Bears #1 offense could shred like they should a group of 2nd/3rd tier defenders for Buffalo.  If they struggled that would be BAD sign, but they were effecient and #18 was on schedule with every throw.   Outstanding work

 

Hope Booker isn't dinged up too bad.   Nasty stunt for his 4th sack in 2 games against a Tackle Guard who had no chance on that stunt

 

Everything looked precise. No issues coming out of the huddle and getting plays off. Very minimal amount of penalties. No turnovers. Caleb got the ball out quickly and was throwing with anticipation and precision. Couldn't really ask for more against Buffalo's backups. 

I really liked what Johnson said after the game about Caleb starting to stack good practices/game on top of each other. He said he and Caleb are very transparent with each other and he'll tell Caleb when his performance in practice isn't good enough. Caleb has said the same thing as well. I would expect to continue to see Caleb stack good performance as they're going to start scaling back the offense. Johnson said himself they were going to turn the fire hose on in camp to throw everything at Caleb. 

I think it's fair to say at this point we have a coaching staff that knows what they're doing and is very transparent when it comes to talking about defeciencies. 

Edited August 19, 2025 by Boilernation

[Coach Nowlin]

Espeically the OL coach who let them have it last week and was not bashful about it in his media session 

 

Starters probably get 1 series on O and D Friday 

[PHJIrish]

MNF, Bears 10, Vikings 6 at halftime.

[temptation]

Well, the entirety of my sports weekend wasn’t a loss.

Just glad to see Connor Stalions got a new gig helping the Vikings.

[Boilernation]

On 9/9/2025 at 7:17 AM, temptation said:

Well, the entirety of my sports weekend wasn’t a loss.

Just glad to see Connor Stalions got a new gig helping the Vikings.

Dude is a winner.  Love him. I think Bears fans would love him as the local kid.