An ESPN story published on Thursday revealed that the upcoming book entitled “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback” includes details about how Caleb Williams and his family allegedly looked into attempting to prevent the Chicago Bears from acquiring the quarterback via the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
During Friday’s edition of the WFAN “Boomer and Gio” program, former NFL quarterback and one-time Most Valuable Player Award winner Boomer Esiason blasted Williams regarding the information author Seth Wickersham shared in his book.
“The level of entitlement is breathtaking,” Esiason said about Williams, per Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing. “It’s no wonder why he failed initially, and it’s no wonder why the coach got fired.”
Williams and the 2024 Bears won four of their first six games before the club endured 10 consecutive defeats. By the time Chicago notched a fifth win in Week 18, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus had both been shown the door.
According to ESPN, Carl Williams, Caleb’s father, told Wickersham he felt that “Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die.” That particular line didn’t sit well with Esiason.
“Now they go out and get an offensive coach in (former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator) Ben Johnson,” Esiason continued during the show segment. “So you know what? Now it’s on his a–. It’s going to be on his a– to live up to these so-called lofty expectations that he has for himself and that his father has for his son. I understand that there could be a discussion. ‘Hey, this is where quarterbacks go to die.’ Well, go fix it. Be the reason that the team is going to turn it around, and you be the player that you think you are.”
In Caleb Williams’ defense, the ESPN story noted that a predraft visit to the Bears facility left him believing “he could be part of a process to turn the franchise around.” Caleb Williams also admitted earlier this spring that he was brought to tears during Chicago’s lengthy losing streak this past season.
“Keep your mouth shut,” Esiason told Caleb Williams. “You’re going into the greatest league that there’s ever been for the sport we all love. You’re going to have a chance one day to make $500M because guys like me and guys before me all went on strike so you could actually make more money. So keep your piehole shut and go out and play football and earn your keep and earn your respect.”
Also on Thursday, Johnson insisted that Caleb Williams “is very proud to be a Chicago Bear” and is “really excited to get to work right now and be the best version of himself for 2025.”
That’s all well and good, but one wonders what Williams’ teammates now think about the 23-year-old who is supposed to be the leader and CEO of the club’s offense.
