Caleb Williams broke record that Caitlin Clark held for 12 days
Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) warms up before a game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Caitlin Clark set an impressive record after she was drafted by the Indiana Fever earlier this month, but the mark stood for less than two weeks. Caleb Williams is responsible for that.
Clark broke the Fanatics record for most merchandise sales on draft night when the Fever took her with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft on April 15. She also sold more jerseys in a single day than the entire Dallas Cowboys roster all of last season. Williams then did the same on Thursday night.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Williams now holds the Fanatics record for most merchandise sold on draft night. Orders for the star quarterback’s Chicago Bears jersey came flying in after he officially became the top overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Chicago’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams broke the Fanatics record for draft night merchandise sales for any draft pick in any sport, beating the previous record set last week by Caitlin Clark.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2024
That is hardly a surprise. Bears fans (and Chicago fans in general) are some of the most rabid in sports. The Bears have not won a playoff game in well over a decade, and their fans are desperate for a quarterback to change that. They clearly believe Williams can be that guy, and they are showing it with their wallets.
Williams recently drew a comparison to a music icon. Some people may not have viewed that as a compliment, but Williams seems to have reached celebrity status before even taking an NFL snap.
