The folks at EA Sports had an idea ready for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams when he came in for his Los Angeles photoshoot in March. With Williams selected this year as the cover athlete for Madden 27, the long-popular football video game, the company creatives wanted to capture the splendor of one of last season’s most magical throws.
Not just by Williams. But in the entire NFL.
Folks in Chicago will never forget it. January. Playoffs. Soldier Field. Against the Green Bay Packers. And with the Bears trying to complete a rally from 18 points down in the second half but facing fourth-and-8 and still trailing 27-16 with 5:37 remaining, Williams created a truly jaw-dropping 27-yard completion to Rome Odunze to keep his team alive.
He did so first by eluding pressure, then by contorting his body and finally by ripping a midair dart into the perfect location along the left sideline. The image of Williams launching that throw, with both feet off the ground and legs splayed, felt familiar, reminiscent of the Michael Jordan “Jumpman” pose the world knows so well.
Run the league one decision at a time. Your official Madden NFL 27 trailer!
Become an MVP+ Member for #Madden27 7-Day Early Access & More 🔗: pic.twitter.com/Lz4PTvcGQ4
— Madden NFL 27 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 5, 2026
Naturally, the video game company wanted to recreate that athletic magic during Williams’ photoshoot visit, having him reenact the completion that helped the Bears grab their first playoff victory in 15 years. But it was Williams’ idea to add this creative twist: superimpose the image in front of the Chicago skyline and in a very similar manner to how Jordan was captured in 1985 as his Nike “Air Jordan” campaign was taking flight.
A fun suggestion? For sure. But it was certainly bold, too, with Williams genuinely coveting to one day be revered on a similar level to one of the all-time icons in sports. In Chicago and across the entire sports landscape, really. The Bears quarterback remains unwavering and unapologetic with his belief that he is ascending in that direction. Thus, he didn’t hesitate at all with his artistic pitch.
“That’s the position I want to be in,” Williams told The Athletic on Thursday night during EA Sports’ Opening Drive event for the Madden game at Navy Pier. “But I also wanted to pay respect to MJ. That’s more of what it was, bringing retro back and not letting people forget that and doing it on my side of the world in football.
“It was paying respect to (Jordan) and what he was able to do in Chicago. And just honestly, it’s me wanting to bring that energy and that vibe back. I think we’re on a track to do that.”
Thursday evening offered the latest glimpse into Williams’ fast-paced, A-list existence. For his first 90 minutes inside the Aon Grand Ballroom, he was ping-ponging around with a swarm of followers in his wake. He first sat for a visit on Cam Newton’s “4th&1” podcast; later plowed through a whirlwind of interviews with internet streamers and content creators; briefly chatted with local reporters; and eventually took a brief pause from a selfie-shot Q&A to peer over a balcony where the night’s program was running to a Vince Vaughn-led trailer for Madden 27.
Vaughn, posing as the architect of a Bears dynasty, emphasized that his first big triumph was locking Williams down as his franchise QB.
“Size. Athleticism. IQ. Chill under pressure,” Vaughn announced. “Caleb Williams is Permafrost.”
Run the league one decision at a time. Your official Madden NFL 27 trailer!
Become an MVP+ Member for #Madden27 7-Day Early Access & More 🔗: pic.twitter.com/Lz4PTvcGQ4
— Madden NFL 27 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 5, 2026
Williams grinned Thursday as he watched the mini-film.
“Really grateful to be a part of this,” he said. “Super excited. And I can’t wait for the world to see it.”
After Wednesday’s practice at Halas Hall, several Bears teammates seemed pumped by the recognition their quarterback was getting with the Madden honor.
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson had peeped the video game cover earlier that morning and landed on the best description he could: tough. “I told him he has to sign mine,” Stevenson said. “Definitely proud of him for that. I’m honored to be on a team with someone who is on the Madden cover.”
Added Bears offensive lineman Jonah Jackson: “The caliber of player he is, the plays he made last year, the games he was able to help us win, it was a no-brainer who should have been on it.”
As for Bears head coach Ben Johnson? Well, his reaction was far more subdued.
“No reaction,” Johnson said stone-faced.
Zero elaboration from the coach, either.
Truth be told, given Johnson’s intense focus and assassin’s mentality, it’s fair to wonder if a small part of him was annoyed by the Madden recognition for Williams, which registers to many as a symbol of arrival, as a gold star presented to a still-developing young player working to master the hardest job in the sport.
In so many ways, Williams’ climb has barely begun.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (left) and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams watch a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets at United Center in January. (Matt Marton / Imagn Images)
Williams’ highlight reel is among the coolest in the league, no doubt, and will continue growing. But the true achievements the Bears are chasing are tied to championships. To the Lombardi Trophy. So it wasn’t shocking Wednesday that Johnson had zero interest in talking about a video game honor for his quarterback and was far more perked up when talking about the continued improvements Williams was making with playbook command and ball location and his orchestration of motions and shifts within the offense.
With all the spotlight Williams attracts and all the acclaim that will continue coming his way, Johnson will play at least a small part in keeping the quarterback in the proper headspace.
“I think he’s wired the right way. He wants to be great,” Johnson said Wednesday. “When that’s the case, you can coach him hard.
“We’re showing clips in front of the offensive unit today and there are some things from (Tuesday’s) practice that, in my opinion, he can get better at. So you coach him just like you coach all the rest of the guys. And he wants that. He wants to be coached the same.”
So that’s what Johnson does. And the coach and quarterback continue to meet every single day to celebrate progress and identify shortcomings.
“That process has gone really well,” Johnson said. “We’re seeing the game through the same lens, which I think is critical for a play caller and a quarterback. I’m really, really proud about how he’s gone about this offseason so far.”
Williams’ offseason also includes off-field opportunities and extracurricular energy demands. He made an appearance earlier this week on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by brothers Jason and Travis Kelce, another signal of his center-stage existence. Then there are forums like Thursday’s Madden event, where the 24-year-old quarterback seemed as comfortable joking around with 48-year-old former All-Pro receiver Chad Johnson as he was reconnecting with 28-year-old streamer Sketch.
At one point Thursday, Williams also sat with Newton again to game a bit, to try out the new Madden.
There’s agility, balance and stamina required, juggling this attention-filled life of a celebrity with the demands of improving as an NFL quarterback. Still, more than five months shy of his 25th birthday, Williams continues handling this spotlight that stalks him and all the acclaim coming his way with grace and comfort.
“I grew up in (Washington), D.C., big market,” he said. “I went to L.A. (during college). Big market. Now I’m here. I’ve been kind of groomed for this. But also, growing up and working out and grinding, you understand that when you get to a certain point of being a high-level college athlete or a pro, some of the things that come with it you have to deal with if you aspire to reach some of these lofty goals that I’ve set.”
This whole Madden honor, Williams said, checks a box on one childhood dream. (And yes, some variation of the Madden cover will eventually find a prominent display location inside the quarterback’s home.)
“I’m really excited, really grateful,” he said. “And hopefully at some point, I can be on this cover again.”
Before being selected by the Bears with the No. 1 pick in 2024, Williams openly expressed his desire to redefine the franchise’s history with the pen in his hand. As the first Bears player to land on the main Madden cover, he continued to put his signature on this current era.
“This fits in perfectly,” he said. “It’s a part of it. It’s another stepping stone for me. It’s another thing to tell me to keep going and keep striving for these goals that a lot of people say I won’t be able to do.”
In front of Williams as he spoke was a giant window overlooking Lake Michigan — with a glimpse of the Chicago skyline.
Williams knows he’s chasing much bigger prizes. Without hesitation, he vowed again that there is so much more ahead.