Why Caleb Williams Paints His Nails — A Look Into the QB’s Unique Expression

Chicago Bears newcomer and former star quarterback at USC, Caleb Williams, has garnered attention for his football skills and his nail art.

Caleb rose to athletic prominence during his time at Oklahoma, where he stepped in as a true freshman and lit up the field. After transferring to USC, he took his game to a whole new level. His performance earned him the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2022, an award given to the top player in college football.

In April 2024, Caleb was selected as the No. 1 overall by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the NFL draft. Caleb made his NFL debut on Sept. 8, 2024, and came equipped with his signature nail art.

The quarterback has made nail art part of his signature style, and it’s caught the attention of fans and the media.

So, why does Caleb Williams paint his nails? It turns out, it’s more than just a fashion statement.

For his debut with the Chicago Bears, Caleb rocked a set of NFL-inspired nails. “#18 Da Bears” was written on the athlete’s nails, as a nod to his player number.

For Caleb, painting his nails is a form of self-expression. It’s his way of showing that he’s comfortable in his own skin, and he’s not afraid to be a little different.

He’s known for painting phrases or symbols that reflect his mindset going into a game. Fans have seen everything from motivational words like “WIN."

He’s said in interviews that he enjoys being himself and doing things his own way, even if it surprises people.

“It started, I would say, three years ago,” Caleb said (per Talk Sport). “It was my last year of high school. My mom does nails. Let's just start it off there. She's done it my whole life. It's just kind of always been around me. … Nobody else does it. I just kinda like to do new things.”

Caleb’s expressive nature has sat well with fans, who applaud the football player for being himself.

Everyone knows that the Chicago Bears' colors are orange and blue, so fans were shocked to see Caleb wearing purple and yellow earrings on the sidelines during his game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 8, 2025.

As expected, Bears fans were not happy with the QB and took to social media, especially seeing as they lost to the Vikings by three points.

"Caleb is a weird dude. Don't think most of his teammates even like him," one person rudely wrote before another disagreed, "I can respect that Caleb Williams is himself and will not be peer pressured into changing who he is."

However, it was later revealed that Caleb chose those colors to represent Suicide Prevention Month, which takes place in September. He also painted "988" on his nails, which is the Suicide Prevention Number.

Once again, Caleb uses his accessories (and nail art) for a bigger cause.