Caleb Williams Sports Suicide-Prevention Nail Art Before Bears Season Opener
Bears quarterback painted the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number and prevention colors on his fingernails during pregame warmups at Soldier Field.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams entered the 2025 season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night with a visible message on his fingernails: the suicide prevention logo and colors on his right, throwing hand and the numbers "988" on his other hand — a direct reference to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Williams displayed the nail art during pregame warmups at Soldier Field before leading the Bears on an opening-drive touchdown that energized the home crowd. The meaning behind the specific design has not been publicly explained, but 988 is widely used as the national lifeline number in the United States.
The painted fingernails have been a recurring part of Williams’ public persona since his college career. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams drew attention for using nail art to display his jersey number, team references and motivational phrases. Some of those messages provoked controversy during his time at USC, including a message directed at an opponent. Williams said he largely stopped the practice during his rookie season amid the Bears’ struggles in 2024.
"It was hard to do," Williams told ESPN about maintaining the tradition while the team was losing. The 2024 season included the midseason firing of then-head coach Matt Eberflus and a 5-12 finish for Chicago, and Williams said the routine became difficult during a challenging inaugural NFL year.
Under new head coach Ben Johnson, Williams has resumed personal flourishes and said he will remain true to himself. "Part of it’s just me being myself and just [being] unapologetic about it," Williams said. "And you know, I’m not going to apologize about it. I’m gonna be me. It doesn’t bother me what people have to say about me because I know what I am. I know who I am and what I like to do."
Photographs from Soldier Field captured Williams’ nails clearly during pregame activity, underscoring how the quarterback’s fashion choices continue to attract attention alongside his on-field development.
Given the public nature of the display, the inclusion of the 988 number drew attention to national suicide-prevention resources. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline may be reached by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Williams’ return to pregame nail art comes as the Bears seek to rebound in 2025 with renewed offensive energy under Johnson. Observers noted that his confidence and on-field play in the opener were prominent as the team looks to improve on last season’s record.