Caleb Williams tried to trademark his nickname, and an NBA legend isn’t happy
There’s a big-time fight brewing over a nickname.
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 18: Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears during an NFL divisional playoff football game on January 18, 2026 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The ascent of Caleb Williams in his second NFL season was dramatic. It was a rocky beginning, working with new head coach Ben Johnson for the first time, but by the midpoint of the season the two had managed to marry Johnson’s exacting passing demands with Williams’ creativity, giving Chicago something truly special.
One way this manifested throughout 2025 was Williams’ incredible ability in the clutch, leading the Bears’ to six fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives. He started to get the nickname “Iceman” as a result, referring to his cold nature with the game on the line. One problem: The original “Iceman” in sports isn’t happy.
Williams moved to copyright the nickname this offseason, and San Antonio Spurs legend George Gervin isn’t happy about it. “I’ve been the Iceman for 40-something years,” Gervin said. “I never thought anybody would try to trademark it.
He kind of knocked me out the box. ” Gervin garnered the nickname in 1974 after being drafted into the NBA by the Spurs following several successful ABA seasons. Teammates and fans said Gervin’s relaxed, loose play was effortlessly cool — they also noted that no matter how intense a game was, Gervin seemingly never sweat on the while playing basketball, hence the nickname.