Caleb Williams Tattoos a Bears Logo? Is This the End Times?

Has Caleb Williams Lost His Mind? (Probably Not, But Still…)

Okay, folks, buckle up because this is gonna be a bumpy ride. Our alleged savior, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, decided that instead of, I don’t know, studying film or maybe learning how to tell the difference between a blitzing linebacker and a rogue hot dog vendor (both equally dangerous in Chicago), he decided to tattoo someone. Yes, you read that right. Tattoo. As in, permanently defacing another human being. With ink. Of a Bears logo, no less. I mean, is this guy for real?

Cole Bennett, some music video guy (who apparently has a soft spot for perpetually disappointing football teams – misery loves company, I guess), is now walking around with a Bears logo etched into his skin, courtesy of our “franchise” QB. Let’s be real here. Bennett was an outspoken fan of Williams throughout his rookie season with the Bears, which, statistically, saw Williams getting sacked a league-leading 68 times. Sixty-eight! That’s more sacks than I’ve had decent meals this year, and that’s saying something.

The pair even showed up on stage together at Bennett’s Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival in Bridgeview, Illinois. I’m sure the fans were thrilled. Nothing says “I’m dedicated to winning” like hanging out at music festivals when you should be, you know, working. This isn’t exactly the image of a focused, driven athlete, is it? More like a dude who’s already planning his post-football career as a celebrity tattoo artist.

The Stats (Because We Have to Pretend This is Journalism)

Okay, fine, let’s look at the numbers. Williams completed 62.5 percent of his throws for 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns, with six interceptions. Not terrible, I guess. But remember, he was also running for his life most of the time. Those 68 sacks aren’t just going to disappear, are they? He did end the season strong, with 1,525 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final seven games. But still…tattooing?

An idealized version of a Bears player doing something other than getting sacked.

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Implications: Is This the New Normal?

So, what does this all mean? Is this the new NFL? Quarterbacks moonlighting as tattoo artists? Are we going to see Patrick Mahomes giving Travis Kelce a Chiefs logo tramp stamp on Hard Knocks? (Dear God, please no.) The implications are terrifying. What if he messes up the tattoo? Will that affect his passer rating? Will the Bears logo become a laughingstock, even more than it already is?

But seriously, folks, this reflects a growing trend of athlete-as-celebrity. It’s not enough to be good at your sport; you have to be a brand. You have to be marketable. And apparently, you have to be able to wield a tattoo gun without maiming your friends. Is that what the Chicago Bears are now? A lifestyle brand? A cautionary tale? “Hey kids, want to be like Caleb? Get good at football, then give your buddies permanent reminders of your possibly fleeting success!”

What the Bears need: Team building, not tattoos.

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