The anticipation surrounding Caleb Williams as the presumed No. 1 pick for the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft is palpable, with speculation mounting that he might don his high school jersey number.
While nothing has been officially confirmed, various clues hint at this possibility.
Here’s an intriguing observation: NFLshop.com offers fans the opportunity to customize jerseys with any name and number, subject to certain rules prohibiting explicit content. An interesting glitch occurs when attempting to create a custom jersey with “Williams” and his college number, 13 — it’s permitted. However, attempting to create a “Williams 18” jersey results in an error, similar to the message displayed for forbidden phrases.
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This pattern isn’t new. It mirrors the situation around Trevor Lawrence’s drafting by the Jacksonville Jaguars, where fans couldn’t pre-order a custom “Lawrence 16” jersey, which turned out to be his number post-draft.
Adding another layer to the speculation, Keenan Allen’s recent trade to the Bears and his historical association with the number 13 suggest he would likely claim this number, leaving Williams to consider alternatives. Interestingly, Williams wore No. 18 during his high school career.
Further stirring the pot, Dante Pettis, who previously donned No. 18 in Chicago, has switched to No. 81, despite No. 18 being ostensibly available. This shuffle adds weight to the theory that No. 18 is being reserved for Williams.
While all signs seem to align with Williams taking No. 18 with the Bears, the world of NFL can always surprise us. However, connecting the dots suggests we might see Williams in a familiar number when he steps onto the field.
