Bears' Caleb Williams Breaks Caitlin Clark's Record for Top-Selling Draft Pick Jersey

Caitlin Clark's draft merchandise-sales record only lasted 10 days thanks to new Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Williams surpassed Clark's record for most draft-night merchandise sales by Fanatics of any player in any sport after the Bears selected him No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday.

After Clark was taken with the top pick by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft on April 15, Fanatics announced her No. 22 jersey was the best-selling jersey ever for a draft pick.

The Fanatics website was sold out of most sizes for Clark's jersey within an hour of the Fever making their pick.

The Bears announced Thursday night that Williams will wear No. 18.

Williams wore No. 13 in college at both Oklahoma and USC, but he spoke before being selected by the Bears about letting newly acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen keep the number he's donned for his entire NFL career.

"If it was the Bears, I couldn't tell you," Williams said. "Because if I went there, there's a 13-year Hall of Fame vet. So that would be tough. But yeah. We'll see."

Anticipation for Williams' arrival in Chicago can't be understated. He's regarded as a "special playmaker" for a franchise that has never had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns in a season.

Erik Kramer is the Bears' single-season leader in both categories when he threw for 3,838 yards and 29 touchdowns in 1995. Mitchell Trubisky is their last quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards (2019) and 20 touchdowns (2018).

It's not unreasonable to think Williams could have the best season for any quarterback in Bears history as a rookie if he adjusts to the NFL quickly.

For all of these reasons, it's not a surprise that Bears fans are ready to don all of the Williams apparel they can get their hands on now that he is officially a member of the organization.