New Bears QB Caleb Williams sets draft-night sales record for Fanatics

Caleb Williams is No.1 in more ways than, well, one.

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Caleb Williams poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Chicago Bears.

Caleb Williams poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Bears.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Caleb Williams is No.1 in more ways than, well, one.

Thursday, the newly minted Bears quarterback broke the Fanatics record for most athlete merchandise sold on any draft night in any sport. That includes former Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark, who was drafted by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever earlier this month.

Williams will wear jersey No. 18, the same he wore at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C.

“I won a championship in it,” Williams said Thursday night.

Tight end Robert Tonyan wore No. 18 for the Bears last year.

Keenan Allen, the six-time Pro Bowl receiver for whom the Bears traded last month, is expected to keep the No. 13 he wore with the Chargers. Receiver Tyler Scott wore the number last year.

Fanatics is selling his Bears jersey in navy, white and orange for preorder, in addition to T-shirt jerseys and USC gear.

Former Washington receiver Rome Odunze, whom the Bears drafted No. 9 overall on Thursday night, will wear No. 15.

2024 NFL Draft
The Bears tried an ill-fated apprenticeship plan with Mitch Trubisky in 2017 (behind Mike Glennon) and Justin Fields in 2021 (behind Andy Dalton). But the 2024 Bears are set up for Williams as the Week 1 starter.
“My last goal is immortality,” Williams said two hours after the Bears made him their first-ever No. 1 overall pick at quarterback. “The only way to reach that is winning championships.’'
They’ll go into Williams’ rookie season with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Odunze at wide receiver.
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The position has been a headache for Poles, but now he has stacked DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Odunze for incoming quarterback Caleb Williams.

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