Why does Caleb Williams paint his nails? The story behind Bears QB's gameday tradition in NFL

Kyle Irving

•
Why does Caleb Williams paint his nails? The story behind Bears QB's gameday tradition in NFL image

Bears star Caleb Williams has drawn attention thanks to a unique accessory that's been on display since his college days at USC and Oklahoma.

The 2024 No. 1 overall pick gets his nails done before every game, often matching his team's colors or writing an inspirational message. Sometimes the message is self-motivational, others it takes a shot at his opponents. During Chicago's Week 1 matchup with the Vikings in 2025, he sported a pattern paying homage to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. His design featured the suicide prevention logo and 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's phone number.

Williams started this trend with the Sooners and has continued it throughout his NFL career. Why does Williams paint his nails before football games? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.

MORE: How much money has Caleb Williams made in career earnings, endorsements and more

Why does Caleb Williams paint his nails?

Williams has explained why he paints his nails on a few different platforms over the years.

In an interview with USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinhart, Williams credited his mom for the inspiration behind his nails.

"It started, I would say, three years ago," Williams told Leinhart in 2022.

"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.

"You gotta keep your hands fresh. This is where all the gold comes from," Williams said.

His painted nails worked out for him in college, considering Williams won the Heisman Trophy at USC and the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

In 2024 before his NFL debut, Williams said he was going to paint his nails for all games in his rookie season, saying it "fires him up."

MORE: Ranking the 17 greatest Bears players ever, from Brian Urlacher to Walter Payton

After the Bears' 2025 season opener, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese said that her and Williams use the same nail technology.

Pictures of Caleb Williams' painted nails

Ahead of his NFL debut, Williams went with an orange coat with navy blue writing that read "#18 DA BEARS" on his nails.

His message isn't always promoting his own team, though. During the 2022 college football season, Williams went with an NSFW message for his opponent, reading "F— Utah."

That message backfired two times over as USC lost to the Utes in both matchups that year. Williams also did a similar pattern in the Trojans' loss at Notre Dame in 2023.

Williams' habit of painting his nails goes all the way back to high school. At the start of his college career at Oklahoma, he had his nails painted for the Sooners' spring game. 

Williams honored the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ahead of the Bears' season opener against the Vikings in 2025, wearing colors and designs that spotlighted the suicide prevention help line.

Williams has shown no signs of letting up on his nail paint in his professional career. Whether it's for pure fashion or the opportunity to spread a positive message, expect Williams to keep on coating his nail beds in color in the years to come.

Kyle Irving

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.