For his NFL season opener, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams paid tribute to suicide prevention by painting one hand with the movement’s colors and logo, and the other with “988,” the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number.
On Monday, September 8, Williams showcased his painted nails during the Chicago Bears’ game against the Minnesota Vikings. The 23-year-old athlete's nail art was made possible by artist Jeimy Lemus. Lemus shared a photo of Williams' nails to her Instagram page, with the caption, "Thank you for your trust in me."
Fans wasted no time taking to the internet to share their thoughts on Williams' message.
"Majority NFL fanbase might like to s*** on Caleb for his 'gay'ness but its refreshing to see someone, especially a starting QB, challenging the overly masculine norms of the league. About time!" said one fan on Reddit. Another person replied, saying, "I love this about him! I'm so glad he's changing the narrative." Someone else chimed in with, "I’m not a fan of the NFL at all, but every once in a while a player comes along that makes me want to root for them big time. Definitely a big Caleb Williams fan right now!"
When he's not playing football, Williams is committed to his Caleb Cares Foundation, working to inspire the next generation by promoting mental health awareness, celebrating diversity, and encouraging anti-bullying efforts.
As for Monday night's football game, it didn’t go as planned for Williams and the Bears. Although Chicago started strong, they struggled in the fourth quarter, allowing 21 points and ultimately falling to the Vikings 27-24. Williams put in a solid performance, completing 21 of 35 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. He also added 58 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries, averaging nearly 10 yards per run.
The next game for the Chicago Bears will pit them against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 14.