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The Chicago Bears have signed Caleb Williams to his rookie deal. The passer signed a fully guaranteed contract worth $39 million on Tuesday, solidifying his immediate future with the franchise.
The Bears picked Williams with the top overall selection in the most recent draft. This, coming after a Heisman-winning career at USC.
Williams burst onto the college scene after initially signing with Oklahoma, quickly swiping the starting role from Spencer Rattler. He then followed Lincoln Riley to Los Angeles when the head coach accepted a role with the Trojans.
As a sophomore, Williams was named college football’s most outstanding player, and though 2024 didn’t go quite as anticipated for USC, the signal caller never left the top of NFL Draft boards.
While his talent was evident, there were criticisms, many of which surrounded an often-unorthodox way of handling typical football protocol. In each case, he silenced negative narratives while continuing to show why he was viewed as a top-tier prospect.
When all was said and done, he was chosen at No. 1, as was expected dating back to that Heisman-winning campaign.
Now, he can officially put the draft process behind him and look ahead to the future.
Caleb Williams signed his deal with the Chicago Bears.
Adam Schefter broke the news on the X platform Tuesday.
One is done: Chicago’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is signing a four-year, fully-guaranteed contract worth $39 million that includes a $25.5 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option, per sources.
-Adam Schefter // X: @AdamSchefter
Not only is Williams’ deal fully guaranteed, but it comes with a $25.5 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option.
What’s interesting, though, is what’s not included. Or more plainly put, what the NFL wouldn’t allow.
There were talks last summer of Caleb Williams’ desire to gain part ownership in the franchise that drafted him. Those reports resurfaced as he progressed through his junior season at USC.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk addressed the equity rumors last October while speaking to Dan Patrick.
Caleb Williams reportedly asking for an ownership stake in a franchise has become the talk of the town. But what’s really going on here? Mike Florio (@ProFootballTalk) joined us to share his opinion.
For Mike’s full appearance: https://t.co/ojllgUN1LU pic.twitter.com/nglsFqyiYT
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) October 19, 2023
“Back in July, when the league approved the sale of the Commanders to Josh Harris, one of the other items of business was to slam the door on any equity transfers to players or non-players. Period.
“You don’t just make those decisions out of thin air. You do it because you’re aware that some stuff might be going on and it may be an issue, so the league preemptively says, ‘This can’t happen.’
“In the immediate aftermath of that… sources I trust very deeply, said that (1) Aaron Rodgers had been trying to shake a little equity out of the Woody Johnson tree and now that’s over, and (2) Caleb Williams’ dad had been telling prospective agents that’s one of the things he’s looking for.”
Florio noted that discussion happened with agents surrounding potential equity, but that they could never come to fruition due to an NFL ruling.
Ownership was never on the table!
That said, he will own the keys to the Chicago offense come Week 1 of the NFL season with the team moving on from Justin Fields. The Bears kick things off against the Titans on opening weekend, and all eyes will be on Caleb Williams in Soldier Field.