Caleb Williams Sparks Controversy With His Nickname Choice

Caleb Williams is trying to squat on the rights to a nickname that was already taken. George Gervin, a legendary NBA star from the 1970s and 80s, has been going by The Iceman for several decades now.

The Chicago Bears quarterback admitted that he didn't know who Gervin was or what his nickname was.

“I didn’t know,” Williams said, per Front Office Sports. “My dad probably knows his nickname was that. . . . It’s not between me and George or anything like that. It’s more or less people making clothing or people making things like that, and I can’t control what people are making of me, or anything like that, and putting the name on it. And so it’s just to control that aspect of it. I mean, that was the main reason of doing it. . . .”

Williams wants to protect his own brand

As Caleb Williams is called "Iceman," he wants to protect himself against others selling things against his will.

“At first, I didn’t, per se, like the nickname,” Williams said. “You know, I thought there was cooler nicknames, and then it all kind of came together. My teammates gave me the name, my teammates started calling me it around the facility and things like that. And I just kind of let it fester and let it become what it is now.

“I’ve actually earned a liking of the name. And so, you know, I just — I wanted to trademark it. I’ve been trying to do that just to make sure, like I said, that we can control what’s being made and put out about me, using that name. And it’s all respect to George. I mean, I didn’t know personally. And I understand maybe what he’s trying to do. We haven’t talked, him and I, and we may talk at some point, but it was nothing between George and I and, like I said, I didn’t know.”