Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been a big topic of conversation around the NFL, becoming the first player in franchise history to grace the cover of EA Sports' Madden for 2027.
Throughout his stellar 2025 season, Williams became a memorable figure in the history of Chicago sports, despite not winning a Super Bowl or major individual award, and used his time as the Madden cover athlete to pay respect to one of the greatest Chicago legends of all-time, Michael Jordan.
For his cover shoot, Williams pulled out his infamous "Jumpman," throw pose which he went viral for in a comeback win over the Green Bay Packers, where he converted a key fourth-and-8 to wide receiver Rome Odunze in the wild-card playoffs. With Williams' signature pose and throw featured on the cover, the Bears quarterback spoke about why that's the one he went with over any other pose, saying he wanted to pay respect to Jordan and the history he made for the city of Chicago.
"That’s the position I want to be in, but I also wanted to pay respect to MJ,” Williams said, via ESPN. “It was more of a respect thing. Bringing retro back, not letting people forget that and doing it on my side of the world of football. Paying respect to that and him and what he was able to do in Chicago. Just honestly wanted to bring that energy, that vibe back."
While there's certainly much more Williams has to achieve in his own sport to draw any comparisons to what Jordan did for the city of Chicago, if he can bring even just one Super Bowl championship in the near future, he may be loved and enamored in the city more than anyone since Jordan.
Throughout his stellar 2025 season, Williams became a memorable figure in the history of Chicago sports, despite not winning a Super Bowl or major individual award, and used his time as the Madden cover athlete to pay respect to one of the greatest Chicago legends of all-time, Michael Jordan.
For his cover shoot, Williams pulled out his infamous "Jumpman," throw pose which he went viral for in a comeback win over the Green Bay Packers, where he converted a key fourth-and-8 to wide receiver Rome Odunze in the wild-card playoffs. With Williams' signature pose and throw featured on the cover, the Bears quarterback spoke about why that's the one he went with over any other pose, saying he wanted to pay respect to Jordan and the history he made for the city of Chicago.
"That’s the position I want to be in, but I also wanted to pay respect to MJ,” Williams said, via ESPN. “It was more of a respect thing. Bringing retro back, not letting people forget that and doing it on my side of the world of football. Paying respect to that and him and what he was able to do in Chicago. Just honestly wanted to bring that energy, that vibe back."
While there's certainly much more Williams has to achieve in his own sport to draw any comparisons to what Jordan did for the city of Chicago, if he can bring even just one Super Bowl championship in the near future, he may be loved and enamored in the city more than anyone since Jordan.
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