Caleb Williams has finally put to rest any doubts he may have had at the start of his time with the Bears.
The quarterback, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, finally signed his rookie contract on Tuesday, a four-year, $39 million deal with $25.5 million guaranteed. From ESPN.
The contract includes a team option for a fifth year.
Williams’ signing brings to an end a saga that had Chicago fans and pundits wondering what was happening with the 22-year-old and his rookie contract after he reported to training camp on Tuesday morning.
Questions were raised about who was negotiating on the quarterback’s behalf after the quarterback said Saturday that it wasn’t him.
“I’m not dealing with it,” Williams said. According to the Chicago Tribune“Everyone at the higher-ups, my lawyers, the attorneys, the Bears leadership, is handling that. It’s not my place to handle it.”
The Bears told the NFL they weren’t talking to any third parties, a league spokesperson told Pro Football Talk, leading the outlet to believe Williams’ lawyer. Not NFLPA certified.
Whatever the issues were, they’re now in the past, and the Bears are finally working with the University of Southern California product long hailed as a transformative quarterback who could change the fortunes of the franchise.
Williams will be at Halas Hall with wide receiver Rome Odunze, who also signed his rookie contract on Tuesday, a four-year, $22.7 million deal that includes a signing bonus of $13.3 million.
