• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 12, 2025

Caleb Williams’s Contract Requests Could Have Changed the NFL

  • Williams ultimately agreed to his rookie-slot deal with the Bears on Wednesday.
  • The league vetoed several creative proposals to avoid taxes.
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, Caleb Williams’s father, Carl, broached the idea of his son getting equity in the team that drafted him. That never became part of Williams’s contract negotiations, because the NFL went on to pass a rule barring players and other team employees from receiving ownership stakes in their teams. 

But as his negotiations with the Bears dragged on—the sides finally announced an agreement Wednesday—several unique requests leaked out. The team and league shot them down, but they still show the Williams family’s creative approach to mostly rigid NFL contracts.

At least three groundbreaking requests from Williams’s camp were reported by Mike Florio in a pair of stories this week.

  • Williams wanted to get paid as an LLC, which would have avoided taxes in Illinois.
  • He also asked about getting paid through a forgivable loan, which would have had the same result.
  • He requested a no-franchise-tag clause, which no rookie has ever received.

The league ultimately decided that the first two were impermissible, despite no explicit prohibitions on them in the collective bargaining agreement, according to Pro Football Talk. The Bears rejected the third request.

Who was doing the asking, and how, remains up for debate. Last week, when Williams was still unsigned, he told the Chicago Tribune it was out of his hands.

“I’m not handling that,” Williams said. “My lawyers and attorney and everybody, the head of the Bears, everybody up there up top is handling that. That’s not my position that I’m handling.” But Williams has no NFLPA-certified agent, and teams are not permitted to directly negotiate with any other player representatives. In the end, that may have been the bigger holdup in Williams actually putting pen to paper on his four-year, $39 million rookie deal. Florio, who has been all over the story, reported what “they’re getting into is a situation where the lawyer who’s handling this isn’t as versed in the nuances of the contract as an experienced and competent agent would be.”

Although Williams’s requests and lack of an agent were unusual, going deep into the summer unsigned while haggling over language is not—even for rookies, who mostly have the leverage to negotiate only over offset terms. Williams’s Bears teammate Rome Odunze just agreed to his deal Tuesday. And in his own division, Vikings first-round picks J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner remain unsigned as of Thursday morning. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
NFL

30 NFL Second-Rounders Still Unsigned With Camps Set to Open

Saturday is the earliest rookie report date for training camp.
Alex Rodriguez

Finally in Charge, A-Rod Says Timberwolves Need New Arena

Rodriguez and Lore would like to repair team relations with Kevin Garnett.

Featured Today

Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.

Najee Harris Contract Situation Unclear Following Fireworks Injury

The running back signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Chargers in March.
Apr 9, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Katie Taylor (left) and Amanda Serrano (right) pose in front of Jake Paul during a press conference ahead of their boxing match at Madison Square Garden.
July 11, 2025

Serrano vs. Taylor 3 Set to Be Biggest Women’s Boxing Match in..

“I’m just sick of the whining and complaining from your team.”
Sinner
July 11, 2025

ESPN Gets Dream Alcaraz-Sinner Rematch in Wimbledon Final

The pair have won the last six men’s majors.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Jul 10, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter of their game at Thomas & Mack Center.
July 11, 2025

Cooper Flagg Makes Mavericks, New Balance Debut in Win Over Bronny

Thursday marked Flagg’s first game donning New Balance shoes.
July 10, 2025

Jalen Williams Signs Max Deal As Thunder Commit $822M to 3 Stars

Oklahoma City also extended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.
Hall of Fame Open at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport.
July 10, 2025

Andy Roddick Slams Billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pro Tennis Gambit

“This was the biggest joke I’ve ever watched in professional tennis.”
July 10, 2025

Suns All In on Booker, Who Signs Record Extension Amidst Chaos

The Suns changed their head coach for the fourth time in four years.