Is Caleb Williams a Packers fan? Explaining why Bears QB grew up rooting for Green Bay

Jake Mozarsky

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Is Caleb Williams a Packers fan? Explaining why Bears QB grew up rooting for Green Bay image

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The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers harbor the NFL's oldest and most storied rivalry, and in only his second season, quarterback Caleb Williams has already etched his name into its history.

In the final week of his rookie year, Williams engineered a game-winning drive to defeat the Packers at Lambeau Field, snapping an excruciatingly long Green Bay win streak. He followed that up in Week 16 of the 2025 season by leading Chicago from a late 16-6 deficit to a stunning 22-16 overtime victory, capped by a D.J. Moore touchdown that secured the Bears' first NFC North title since 2018.

Now, Williams will make his first career playoff start at Soldier Field against the same arch-rival Packers in the NFC Wild Card round, marking the fourth time in just over a year that the fate of this historic rivalry rests on his right arm.

But there’s a twist to the story: before he became Chicago’s star signal-caller, Williams confessed to rooting for the Packers as a child — a revelation many in the Chicago area would call a sin. It sets up a clash of loyalties, where his childhood fandom meets his current mandate to end Green Bay’s long reign.

Here’s more on Williams’ surprising ties to Green Bay.

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Is Caleb Williams a Bears fan?

While Williams is currently the quarterback for the Bears, his history suggests a complicated relationship their main rival.

Before he was drafted by the Bears, Williams stated on social media that he was a Packers fan in March 2022, likely because he was a longtime fan of Aaron Rodgers. Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams' camp reportedly had concerns about going to the Bears, with some reports indicating he initially told his father he would rather play for the Bears' rival, the Minnesota Vikings.

Though, since becoming the Bears' face of the franchise, Williams has fully embraced the rivalry with Green Bay. After leading the Bears to a victory at Lambeau Field in his rookie season, he said that Packers fans "suck" and was recorded chanting "F*** Green Bay" with Bears fans at a festival.

A day after the monumental victory on Dec. 20, 2025, Williams was wearing a cheese-grater at a charity event.

It's fair to say Williams made a successful switch in the rivalry.

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Why was Caleb Williams a Packers fan?

Williams was a Green Bay Packers fan because he's been a longtime fan of Aaron Rodgers, whom he once called his "football GOAT." His tweet expressing his continued support for the Packers came in March 2022, around the time Rodgers announced he would be returning to Green Bay for another year. This suggests his fandom was tied to his admiration for the quarterback's game.

However, since being drafted by the Bears, he has fully embraced his role with the team. He has expressed his desire to make the fans "proud to be a Chicago Bear fan" and has shown a strong dedication to the franchise by stating his ambition to be the quarterback to "bring a championship to Chicago" and become a legend there.

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Where is Caleb Williams from?

Williams was born in Washington, D.C.

He grew up in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, which includes D.C. Itself, as well as parts of Maryland like Bowie and Upper Marlboro. He attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C before attending Oklahoma and USC.

He was selected by Chicago with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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