With the NFL draft less than two weeks away, Archie Manning wants to reiterate that he “really didn’t” have anything to do with son Eli forcing a trade to the New York Giants in 2004 after being picked No. 1 overall by the then-San Diego Chargers.
In fact, he also made it clear to Carl Williams, the father of likely No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, in a recent phone call that he won’t be helping him find leverage for his quarterback son in the process, according to an ESPN story published Monday.
One time, according to Archie, Carl mentioned that someday, Manning might have to help him on which teams the family “may not want to go to.
“And I said, ‘Mr. Williams, that’s not what I do.’”
The ESPN story said that Williams and Archie Manning have remained in touch, talking a “few times before by phone,” mostly about the Manning Passing Academy.
Caleb Williams, the former star QB at USC and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, is the favorite to land with the Chicago Bears, who traded their former starter Justin Fields this offseason, at No. 1 on April 25. Chicago has reached the playoffs two times in the past 13 seasons, putting together a 7-10 record in 2023 and 3-14 record in 2022.
The Bears need a savior. Williams threw for 3,633 yards with 30 touchdowns and five interceptions last season, and he rushed for 11 more touchdowns. He seems to have the makings of a franchise cornerstone, and Williams’ dad can only hope he follows in the success of Eli Manning, who won two Super Bowls in New York.
