In 2024, quarterback Caleb Williams and his dad were so determined to avoid being drafted by the Chicago Bears that the duo thought about signing with the United Football League, asked legal experts about avoiding the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and considered avoiding the draft entirely,

Caleb Williams wanted nothing to do with the Chicago Bears as last year’s NFL draft approached, according to a book to be published in September.

With Williams being the clear-cut top pick coming out of USC, Carl told several agents in 2024 he didn’t want his son to play for the Bears, who had the No. 1 pick. Part of his efforts to avoid Chicago included consulting Archie Manning, father of Eli Manning, who helped orchestrate Eli’s trade from the San Diego Chargers to the New York Giants.