Caitlin Clark’s record for the highest draft merchandise sales was quickly eclipsed by Caleb Williams, the new quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Williams set a new record for the most draft-night merchandise sales recorded by Fanatics for any player across all sports, following his selection as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Clark had previously set the record on April 15 when she was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft, with her No. 22 jersey becoming the top-selling jersey for a draft pick in Fanatics’ history. The demand was so high that most sizes of Clark’s jersey sold out within an hour after her selection.
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Williams, who will wear No. 18 for the Bears, chose this number after considering the situation with Keenan Allen, a veteran wide receiver who has worn No. 13 throughout his NFL career, the same number Williams wore during his college career at Oklahoma and USC.
Discussing the potential number conflict before being drafted by the Bears, Williams expressed respect for Allen’s tenure, highlighting the complexity of the decision.
Williams’ entry into Chicago has generated significant excitement, given his reputation as a dynamic playmaker. The Bears have historically lacked a quarterback who could surpass the 4,000-yard or 30-touchdown mark in a season. Erik Kramer holds the team’s single-season records with 3,838 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, achieved in 1995. More recently, Mitchell Trubisky was the last Bears quarterback to reach 3,000 yards in 2019 and 20 touchdowns in 2018.
With such high expectations and his apparent fit for the franchise, it’s no surprise that Bears fans eagerly snapped up Williams’ merchandise, signaling their enthusiasm for what they hope will be a transformative era under his leadership.
