Caleb Williams’ gray undershirt sparks debate as Bears fall to Vikings 27-24
Chicago quarterback’s uniform choice drew social media attention amid a late Minnesota comeback at Soldier Field
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams drew attention on social media for wearing a gray undershirt beneath his jersey Monday night as the Bears fell 27-24 to the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field.
Williams, in his second NFL season, was spotted with the nontraditional undershirt as he took the field for the Week 1 matchup on Sept. 8, 2025. The appearance of the gray garment divided fans and commentators online while the game itself produced a late Minnesota rally that erased a Chicago halftime lead.
On the field, it was a tale of two halves for the Bears. Chicago led by four points at halftime, and the defense returned a pick-six by cornerback Nahshon Wright, but the offense stalled at critical moments in the second half. The Bears punted several times and missed a fourth-quarter field goal after an 11-play, 44-yard drive, allowing Minnesota to seize momentum.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy engineered three touchdown drives in the second half to power the comeback. Williams responded late, throwing a touchdown pass to Rome Odunze and finishing 21-of-35 for 210 yards with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown, but the Bears had little time remaining after that score.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson cited mistakes late in the game as a key factor in the loss. "We said going into Week 1 that the team that would make the least number of mistakes would win the game, and unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of that," Johnson said. "We made too many there late in the game, myself included. There were a number of things that I could have done better."
Williams, the former Heisman Trophy winner and the Bears' top pick in the 2024 draft, entered the season with high expectations. The uniform debate added an unconventional subplot to a game that will be remembered for Minnesota's late offensive surge and Chicago's missed scoring opportunities.
The loss leaves Chicago searching for consistency on offense and a cleaner execution late in games. Social media reaction to Williams’ undershirt was widespread but peripheral to on-field performance, where turnovers, missed field goals and productive drives by Minnesota determined the outcome.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.