At No. 13 in The Athletic’s year-end NFLPA jersey sales stands rookie quarterback, and former USC Trojans Heisman winner, Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears. That puts him ahead of Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, and just behind Green Bay’s Jordan Love. For a franchise craving stability at QB, that’s no small feat.
Williams already set a Fanatics draft-night record for most merch sold in a single night across any sport. Clearly, the Chicago fanbase is buying in, literally.
Why The Jersey Buzz Matters For The USC Trojans Legend
Even without a veteran-level debut, Williams drove demand, which shows franchise and fan trust more than stats ever could. Chicago’s last true answer at QB was Jay Cutler. Since then, it’s been a carousel.
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Williams arrives with momentum. He posted nearly 3,550 passing yards and 20 TDs as a rookie, while breaking multiple Bears rookie records. Add the jersey frenzy, and it’s a thumbs up on both the field and the shelf.
What Now For Caleb Williams?
He’s stepping into a real system under new head coach Ben Johnson, who’s building an offense that actually fits him.
With DJ Moore, Colston Loveland, and Rome Odunze around him and a reinforced O-line in front, he’s positioned for a much better Year 2. It looks like Chicago finally found its guy for the first time in forever.
You can call it marketing. You can call it hype. But in a city that’s been waiting forever for a true face of the franchise, it feels a lot like hope.