Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sent a signed No. 18 jersey to Pope Leo XIV this week, according to NBC 5 Chicago. The gift was presented at the Vatican by Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, to the pontiff, who is a Chicago native and sports fan.
The Chicago Connection: Why Pope Leo XIV Received the Gift
The exchange is rooted in the pontiff’s ties to the Windy City. NBC Sports reports that Pope Leo XIV was born as Robert Francis Prevost and is a native of Chicago. Given the city’s sporting landscape, the outlet notes it is likely the Pope is a Bears fan.
This isn’t the first time the Holy See has received a piece of Chicago sports history. ABC7 Chicago recently learned that former White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski previously gifted the Pope a baseball from the 2005 World Series.
Williams acknowledged the gesture on his Instagram story.
“Shoutout to DA POPE,”
Caleb Williams, via NBC 5 Chicago
Jersey Speculation: A Leak of the ‘Rivalry’ Uniform?
While the gift was intended as a gesture of goodwill, it triggered immediate scrutiny from the Bears’ fanbase. The jersey in the photo is not the standard blue-numbered, striped-sleeve road option the team typically wears. This discrepancy has led to two competing theories among observers.
For more on this story, see Pope Leo XIV Visits Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Receives Real Madrid Jersey.
One theory, highlighted by NBC Sports, suggests the white jersey with orange numbering and no stripes is a sneak preview of the upcoming “Rivalry” uniform. These specialized jerseys are part of a “Nikefied enhancement” affecting teams in the NFC North and an AFC South league, intended to expand the available game gear collection. If this is the case, the jersey could be slated for the Bears’ Christmas Day matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
However, other fans pointed to a more mundane explanation. NBC 5 Chicago reports that some viewers identified the garment as the “Tundra” fashion jersey, which is currently available for purchase on Nike’s website.
Timeline and Next Steps for Caleb Williams
The NFL has not yet released an official timetable for the reveal of any new jerseys. Despite the social media chatter, the team’s focus remains on the upcoming season. Williams and the rest of the Bears roster are scheduled to report for training camp in Lake Forest later this month.
The intersection of high-profile diplomacy and NFL branding has turned a simple gift into a point of analysis for a fanbase eager for any glimpse of the team’s visual evolution. Whether the Pope’s jersey is a retail “Tundra” piece or a classified “Rivalry” leak, it has placed the Bears’ brand in one of the most viewed offices in the world.
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