Former Trojan and Chicago Bears standout Caleb Williams has been on the rise while consistently making headlines on and off the field. Whether you’re someone who has never heard of him or you’ve been a fan since his Oklahoma days, here are ten things to know about the second-year NFL quarterback.
- He is an advocate for mental health
Throughout his football career, Williams has used his platform to speak openly about mental health. Just three days after making his USC debut in 2022, he spoke at a mental health panel at Annenberg that partnered with the “Seize the Awkward” campaign. There he discussed his own journey with mental health and also touched on how he gives back to the community by working with youth.
Since the panel, Williams has created his own mental health foundation called “Caleb Cares.” The foundation aims to advocate for youth mental health, prevent bullying and empower younger people.
- Nail-s his own look
Williams’ playmaking isn’t the only thing in the spotlight, as his fingernails have been a constant topic of discussion. He began painting them as a form of expression in homage to his mother Dayna Price, who also used to paint his nails, in his senior year of high school. Now, Williams has used this expression to support other mental health awareness causes, including painting 988 in support of the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
- Williams was the 2022 Heisman winner
In 2022, Williams became USC’s eighth Heisman winner during his sophomore season with the Trojans after transferring from Oklahoma. Williams had a standout performance that year, throwing for over 4,500 yards and 42 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns on the season, showcasing the dual-threat skills that have made him so popular in the NFL. In addition to his Heisman, Williams was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and 2022 AP Player of the Year.
After an up-and-down 2023 season that included USC losses to rivals UCLA and Notre Dame, Williams declared for the 2024 NFL draft, where he would be selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Chicago Bears. He became the third quarterback in Bears’ history to be chosen at No. 1.
- He has broken and continues to break football records
Williams’ football career has been defined by the countless records he has broken as a player. As a Trojan, he currently holds the single season record for overall offense (4,919 yards) and most touchdowns scored rushing and passing (52).
In just his second year in the NFL, Williams set the Bears’ single season franchise record for passing yards, throwing for 3,942 yards. This follows an inaugural season in which he set franchise records for completions (351), passing yards (3,541) and passing touchdowns (20) by a rookie QB. Williams also holds the Bears’ single game rookie passing record (363 yards) and the league record for consecutive passes by a rookie without an interception (354). Did we mention he was the first Bears rookie QB with multiple 300+ yard games?
- He has invested in women’s soccer
Off the field, Williams has made moves to invest in the future of women’s sports. In October 2025, it was announced that he would be an investor in the NWSL’s newest expansion team, the Boston Legacy. Williams joined a group of other athletes who have invested in the team, including USC junior guard JuJu Watkins, Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston and former Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman.
- His nickname is the ‘Ice Man’
Williams has embraced a few nicknames throughout his career, even naming his dog ‘Supa’ after the Superman label he garnered back in high school. These days, Williams is widely regarded as the ‘Iceman’. Known to have ice in his veins, the nickname comes from his ability to stay calm and composed while under high-pressure situations. It relates to the last-minute playmaking skills that made him a touted NFL prospect, as Williams can extend plays and make passes in late game situations.
- Williams is known for his play-making creativity
Even when not under pressure, Williams’ play-making ability still shines. As a quarterback, his athleticism and improvisation skills have helped him stand out this season. Most recently, Williams threw a hail mary touchdown pass at the end of the fourth quarter in the divisional round against the Rams to tie the score and keep the Bears’ chances alive. Williams scrambled out of the pocket and threw a 14-yard touchdown to Bears’ tight end Cole Kmet, all while on fourth down and just under 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
However, this creativity is nothing new for Williams. He also made highlight-worthy plays at USC including, a spinning escape for touchdown against ASUin 2023. He ran past multiple defenders with a spin move inside the pocket, made a move to his right and threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Brenden Rice. That night, he finished with 322 yards throwing and three touchdowns.
- Family remains an important part of his life
Williams has openly spoken about how close he is with his parents, often regarding them as his “best friends”. His parents have long supported his football career, with his dad having involvement in creating his pathway to becoming a quarterback. His dad has been acting as his manager since the 2024 NFL draft and has given him advice on navigating his football career.
“I’m very fortunate to have a father that’s super strong minded, that’s always there, always wants the best for his kid,” Williams said during media availability in May 2025.
He has also been able to lean on his mom both in difficult and happy moments. In his Heisman acceptance speech, he thanked his mom in the speech, referring to her as “the most important woman in his life.”
“Thanks for always being my mom first,” he said. “The woman behind the scenes, who has a smile on her face and is willing to help others. You’re an inspiration to me in many ways.”
But the recognition for his mom doesn’t stop there. While his teammates mention their alma maters in this season’s intros, he chose to shout out his mom instead.
- He’s showing support on a Chicago sports tour
Williams has been embraced by the Chicago sports community, and he’s embraced them back. From adopting the Iceman moniker to leaning into the Bears’ rivalry with the Green Bay Packers, Williams has showcased his dedication to Chicago football.
But his love for the city and their sporting scene doesn’t end at Soldier Field. Whether he’s in season or off the field, Williams has been spotted supporting other Chicago sports. Following the Bears’ loss to the Rams in this year’s divisional playoff round, Williams was seen the next night showing support to the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team alongside Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. He has also made several appearances at Chicago Bulls’ games, and was recently gifted his own custom jersey.
- He still makes the occasional LA appearance
Since being drafted into the NFL, Williams has returned back to LA and made appearances at other sporting events. In 2023, he was selected as Los Angeles Football Club’s Honorary Falconer, and handled one of the falcons in the pregame Celebration of Flight. That year, he threw the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium to pitcher Bobby Miller; the Dodgers won that game 11-4 over the Los Angeles Angels. Williams also made his return to the LA Coliseum in 2024, where he was honored at USC’s rivalry game against Notre Dame and had his jersey retired.
Although the Bears’ season ended just short of making history, Williams is quickly building momentum in his early NFL career. Whether he’s breaking records or making an impact off the field, he has shown that he is establishing a role for himself in the future of Chicago football.
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