The Chicago Bears’ Week 9 thriller against the Cincinnati Bengals gave us one of the most electric finishes of the season-and maybe one of the most defining moments yet in Caleb Williams’ young NFL career.
It was a shootout from the jump. Both teams traded touchdowns like heavyweight fighters trading haymakers, and when the Bengals took a one-point lead with just 54 seconds left, it looked like they might escape with a win. But Williams had other plans.
With the poise of a veteran and the arm talent that made him the No. 1 overall pick, Williams delivered a 58-yard strike to Colston Loveland with just 17 seconds on the clock. That bomb sealed a 47-42 win for Chicago and sent Bears fans into a frenzy. It was the kind of moment that doesn’t just win games-it builds legacies.
On the other side of the field, Bengals star wideout Ja’Marr Chase had himself a day, hauling in six catches for 111 yards. But in the end, all he could do was watch as Williams and the Bears stole the show.
Fast forward to a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where Chase and teammate Tee Higgins joined the set. In a lighthearted moment, Chase referred to the Bears’ quarterback as “Caleb Daniels”-a mix-up that blended Williams’ name with that of Jayden Daniels, the fellow rookie QB who went right after Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft.
McAfee and the crew played along for a moment before McAfee asked the obvious question: “Who is Caleb Daniels?” Cue the laughter.
Chase, realizing the slip, admitted, “I don’t know what the f- his first name is. What’s his name?
What’s the quarterback for the Bears?”
Let’s be clear-this wasn’t some malicious jab. It was a simple mental misfire in a casual setting. But in today’s NFL, where rivalries and reputations are built in real-time and on every platform, moments like these don’t go unnoticed.
Caleb Williams certainly noticed.
Shortly after the clip made the rounds online, Williams responded with a subtle but pointed reminder. He retweeted the video with no caption-just letting the moment speak for itself. It was the kind of quiet clapback that says, “You’ll remember my name soon enough.”
And honestly, how could you forget? Williams has been stacking highlight-reel plays all season.
His playoff performance against the Rams-especially that jaw-dropping touchdown to Cole Kmet in the Divisional Round at Soldier Field-had the entire league buzzing. He’s shown he’s not just a quarterback with elite tools; he’s a gamer who thrives in the biggest moments.
Off the field, Williams is making noise too. For the second straight year, GQ named him the NFL’s Most Stylish Player. He’s becoming a face of the league, both for what he does between the lines and how he carries himself off the field.
So while Ja’Marr Chase may have blanked on his name during a talk show segment, don’t expect that to happen again. Caleb Williams is here, and he’s not just leading game-winning drives-he’s building a brand, a reputation, and maybe even a dynasty in Chicago.
And the next time Chase lines up across from the Bears, you can bet he’ll know exactly who’s under center.