When you think of Caleb Williams, his dynamic playmaking ability is what immediately stands out. His knack for scrambling out of the pocket to evade pressure and then launching a deep throw downfield is precisely why the Chicago Bears selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. But Williams is more than just a talented quarterback—he’s also known for his unique personality.
Criticism of Williams rarely focuses on his performance on the field. Instead, it often centers on how he expresses himself off of it.
One notable example is when Williams painted his fingernails with the words “F*** Utah” for the 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game against the Utah Utes. The critics were louder after the Trojans suffered a 47-24 loss that night, despite Williams throwing for 363 yards and one interception, while adding another 21 yards on the ground.
During the 2023 season, Williams continued his nail-painting tradition before each game, usually showcasing a different design. Naturally, fans and commentators wondered if he would carry this habit into his NFL career with the Bears.
The hosts of Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast asked him that very question.
“Yeah, I’m gonna do it this year,” Williams confirmed.
However, Williams hasn’t painted his nails for any preseason games yet, and there’s a reason behind it.
As CBS Sports reports, Williams has been painting his nails since his last year of high school, often letting his mom, a nail technician, handle the designs. He plans to save his fresh ideas for the regular season and, potentially, the postseason.
“I’m trying to make sure I can do it for games… because I’ll run out of ideas,” Williams explained.
One design you won’t see again, though, is the use of explicit language like in the Utah game.
“I will not be doing that. I’m trying to keep, you know, good-spirited things on my nails,” Williams said.
As host Dan “Big Cat” Katz pointed out, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would likely frown upon any player, especially a first-round pick like Williams, displaying explicit language on their body or uniform. Such an act could result in fines or even a suspension. The Bears organization would likely have their own concerns about it as well.
Williams acknowledges that painting his nails “fires him up,” but he admits he can find other ways to get motivated. So far, he’s shown promise in the preseason. However, whenever the young quarterback decides to paint his nails, it’s bound to stir controversy—especially if the Bears lose. The Bears and their new starting quarterback will kick off their 2024 regular season on the road against the Tennessee Titans on September 8.
Caleb Williams says he will paint his nails for all games this season and that it fires him up 👀
(Via @PardonMyTake)
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 22, 2024
