From Runways to the Red Zone: Caleb Williams Balances Fashion Fame, European Jet-Setting, and Super Bowl Dreams in Chicago

Caleb Williams isn’t your typical NFL quarterback—and that’s exactly how he likes it.

The Chicago Bears’ franchise signal-caller and last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick has become a walking, talking contradiction of the conservative mold that has long defined his position. While most rookies quietly adjust to the speed of the NFL, study playbooks, and keep their public profiles low, Williams has boldly embraced an off-field life that’s as colorful as his pre-draft suits.

In the past year alone, he’s strutted down high-fashion runways, appeared front-row at Paris Fashion Week, launched multiple business ventures, and vacationed through Europe with a celebrity circle. But make no mistake—behind the glitz and designer shades lies a quarterback determined to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

“People expect me to be one-dimensional,” Williams said in a recent interview. “But I’m going to be the guy who dominates on Sundays and builds a billion-dollar brand. I don’t see why I can’t do both.”

Williams has never been shy about his ambitions—on or off the field. And since the Bears made him their prized No. 1 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, he’s only doubled down on his audacious goals. In his first season, he showed flashes of brilliance amid the usual growing pains of a rookie quarterback. But what truly sets Williams apart is the world he’s building around himself—and his unapologetic confidence in doing so.

THE STAR WHO DRESSES LIKE ONE

While most rookies showed up to the NFL Combine in tailored suits and safe ties, Williams wore a pink Louis Vuitton sweater, designer jeans, and a chain bearing his initials. When he took the stage at the draft in Detroit, he turned heads again—rocking custom fingernail art, a sparkling jacket, and a grin that said, “I know exactly who I am.”

That sense of identity has led him straight into the fashion world, where he’s become something of a phenomenon.

Within months of being drafted, Williams signed a deal with Hugo Boss and appeared in campaigns for Gucci and Off-White. In January, he walked in the Givenchy show during Paris Fashion Week, a move that sparked both praise and backlash. For Williams, it was more than just a vanity project—it was strategic.

“Fashion is how I express myself,” he said. “It’s part of my brand, and I want young athletes to know they can be more than just athletes.”

Indeed, Williams is actively breaking the mold of what a football star can be. He’s not the first NFL player to step into fashion—Odell Beckham Jr. and Cam Newton paved the way—but Williams is arguably the first rookie quarterback to do so this boldly, this early. It’s a risk. But then again, he’s built his life on taking calculated ones.

THE EUROPEAN SUMMER

While much of the NFL world spent the offseason training in Florida or Arizona, Williams was hopping from Milan to Ibiza. Instagram posts from June showed him lounging in Capri with artists, influencers, and international entrepreneurs. One week, he was eating escargot in Paris; the next, he was riding jet skis in the Mediterranean.

Some fans raised eyebrows. Others loved it. Williams didn’t seem to care either way.

“I’m young, I’m successful, and I’ve earned the right to enjoy life,” he said. “But I’m also getting up every day and working. Just because you don’t see it on Instagram doesn’t mean I’m not putting in the hours.”

His coach, Matt Eberflus, backed that up. “Caleb’s one of the most driven young men I’ve ever worked with,” Eberflus said. “He shows up. He studies. He leads. What he does on his time is his business—as long as he delivers.”

Delivering is what Williams intends to do.

THE BUSINESS EMPIRE

Beyond fashion and football, Williams is building an empire.

With the help of his father, Carl, a former entrepreneur, Williams launched a media and branding company before even throwing an NFL pass. The company—“1 of None,” a nod to his uniqueness—focuses on athlete empowerment, NIL branding, and digital content creation. It already has several clients and has drawn interest from venture capital circles.

Williams also owns real estate in Los Angeles, has a stake in multiple startups, and has been spotted in meetings with tech executives in Silicon Valley. His long-term goal? To become a billionaire.

“There’s no reason I can’t be the first quarterback to build a business empire on the level of LeBron or Serena,” Williams said. “I want to own things. I want to create jobs. I want to leave a legacy that’s bigger than touchdowns.”

It’s a lofty vision, and it doesn’t always sit well with traditionalists. But Williams, who grew up idolizing not just athletes but moguls like Jay-Z and Elon Musk, isn’t seeking their approval. He’s chasing greatness on his own terms.

THE QUEST FOR A SUPER BOWL

Of course, none of it matters—none of the fashion deals, the jet-setting, the brand building—if Williams doesn’t win.

And he knows it.

“That’s the elephant in the room,” he admitted. “I can do all these things, but if I don’t win in Chicago, people will say I was distracted. That I didn’t care. But winning is the only reason I do any of this. I want to be the greatest quarterback who ever lived.”

Williams has already shown signs he might have what it takes. Despite a turbulent rookie season with a rebuilding Bears roster, he passed for 3,800 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while also rushing for five more scores. More importantly, he showed poise, escapability, and flashes of that “it” factor scouts raved about at USC.

Now, with a reloaded Bears offense that includes D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and top rookie Rome Odunze, expectations are rising. The city of Chicago—starved for elite quarterback play since the days of Sid Luckman—has found hope in Caleb Williams. And Williams, for all his outside ventures, has made it clear: football still comes first.

“My goal is to win a Super Bowl. Then win another. Then another,” he said. “I want the Bears to become a dynasty. I want people to say, ‘That’s the guy who changed everything.’”

THE FUTURE FACE OF THE LEAGUE?

Whether Caleb Williams will live up to the hype remains to be seen. The NFL is brutal. It humbles stars in a heartbeat. But there’s a reason Bears GM Ryan Poles called him “the most uniquely gifted player I’ve ever evaluated.”

There’s a reason teammates already call him a leader.

There’s a reason fans flock to Soldier Field in No. 18 jerseys, hoping they’ve finally found “the one.”

Williams represents something new—not just for Chicago, but for the NFL. A quarterback who wears nail polish, quotes fashion designers, and also throws lasers 50 yards downfield. A player who wants Super Bowl rings and Forbes covers. Who’s just as comfortable talking mesh routes as he is marketing strategy.

“Some people hate it. Some people love it,” he said. “But I’m not changing. I’m going to be me—and I’m going to win doing it.”

If he’s right, Caleb Williams won’t just be a great quarterback.

He’ll be a cultural icon who redefined what greatness can look like.