Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams responds to NFL

,” and included an image of Williams as a child. Alongside the photo, the league wrote, “This is who became known as The Iceman.”

Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams embraces ‘Iceman’ nickname

Williams quickly reposted the image to his Instagram Story. Williams responded to the NFL’s message with four words.

“Icy … Been fly too,” he captioned his post.

The young quarterback has long embraced the “Iceman” moniker.

“I’m a fan of it,” he told “FOX NFL Sunday” in November. “It’s a cool name. It’s interesting when you think of it.”

According to Williams, the concept behind the nickname resonates with the way he approaches critical situations on the field.

“Ice is still,” he said. “Ice is calm, but underneath is pure energy. That’s the same mindset I have in those moments. I feel at my calmest on the outside, but there’s a lot going on in the inside.”

Williams gained the moniker during the 2025 season, when he led the Bears to multiple dramatic comeback victories. The phrase “ice in his veins” inspired the nickname. Bears safety Kevin Byard III referenced it after the Bears’ 24–20 comeback win over the New York Giants on Nov. 9.

Trailing 20–10 late in the fourth quarter, Williams orchestrated two scoring drives in under three minutes. He sealed the victory with a 17-yard touchdown scramble that left defenders frozen.

“I’ve seen it too many times,” Byard said in an interview after the game. “When the game is on the line and we need him to make a play, he has ice in his veins…he doesn’t flinch at all. We know if the game is close, he’s going to make it happen for us.”

Bears receiver Luther Burden III also called him “Iceman” on social media following the game. Williams responded with a snowman emoji, signaling his approval of the nickname. Bears head coach Ben Johnson also later mentioned that Williams has “ice in his veins.”

The rookie sensation further cemented his “Iceman” reputation during the playoffs on Jan. 10, 2026. The Bears were trailing the Green Bay Packers late in the game when he led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives. He secured a 31–27 victory, ending years of frustration against the team’s longtime rivals.

The win marked Chicago’s largest postseason comeback and its first playoff victory in 15 years.

Emerging as a breakout star last season, Williams set a Bears single-season passing record of 3,942 yards, surpassing Erik Kramer’s 3,838-yard mark. For his record-breaking performance and late-game heroics, he led the team to an 11–6 record and the NFC North title during the 2025 season.