When the Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, the franchise hoped to finally rewrite its quarterback legacy. Instead, it unraveled into another disaster. The team finished at the bottom of the NFC North—again. And now, fingers are pointing squarely at former head coach Matt Eberflus.
The criticism exploded after ESPN released a teaser from Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book *American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback*. It included revelations that Williams had to study film alone, with minimal guidance from the Bears’ coaching staff. Three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth didn’t hold back, calling the Bears’ mishandling of their rookie QB “malfeasance.”
“He Got No Help”
Schlereth, speaking with Rich Eisen, slammed the coaching strategy: *“Caleb Williams—well, I’m shocked the kid put up 20 touchdowns versus six interceptions.”* He pointed to Williams’ league-leading 68 sacks as a glaring sign of neglect, blaming it on a lack of veteran mentorship and game-day guidance. *“No one sat him down to show him where to throw or how to protect himself,”* Schlereth added.
Despite those obstacles, Williams still completed 66% of his passes and showed flashes of brilliance. But the backstory suggests that was in spite of his environment—not because of it.
Explosive Revelations From Caleb’s Camp
Caleb’s father, Carl Williams, gave voice to the frustrations behind the scenes. According to the excerpt, he tried to get legal advice on how to keep his son out of Chicago altogether. He even floated the idea of Caleb playing in the UFL just to enter the NFL as a free agent later.
His blunt assessment? *“Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die.”* That line alone sent shockwaves through the league.
Carl also criticized everything from the Bears’ offensive dysfunction to the team’s uncertain stadium plans, adding, *“I don’t trust their direction.”* He even slammed the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, calling it *“the worst piece of s— I’ve ever read.”*
Bears Yet to Respond
With OTAs underway, the Bears have not commented on the controversy or made Caleb available to the press. The silence is deafening, especially as fans and analysts demand answers about what went wrong with the league’s most hyped rookie.
The Bigger Question
Is Chicago truly a “quarterback graveyard,” or can Caleb Williams break the cycle? If the Bears hope to find out, they’ll need to surround him with the leadership, mentorship, and system he never had in Year 1. Because if they don’t, they risk wasting another generational talent—and proving Carl Williams right.