Bears GM Ryan Poles shares blunt response on Caleb Williams’ potential contract extension

Caleb Williams is slowly but surely establishing himself as the future face of the Chicago Bears, setting the franchise’s single-season records in passing yards and attempts. Still, the organization would rather take its time before financially committing to him in the long term.

In an exclusive interview with The Bigs’ Herb Howard that was filmed during last week’s annual league meetings, general manager Ryan Poles said:

“To be honest, all these conversations are a little bit early. There’s going to be some things Ben (Johnson) has for Calen in terms of improving his game, and he needs to take it one year at a time.”

He continued:

“I think sometimes when we get in these conversations, you start to press and play outside of what we’re supposed to play like. And he needs to just follow Ben’s instructions on what’s next for him and prioritize that.”

ALSO READ: Caleb Williams mocks Ben Johnson over Bears HC’s snap in head coach group photo at NFL’s Annual Meeting

ALSO READ: Skip Bayless fires back at Caleb Williams 1 day after Bears QB mocked veteran analyst for ‘Iceman’ trademark criticism

Caleb Williams explains plans to trademark “Iceman” nickname

A popular nickname that emerged for Caleb Williams in the 2025 season was “Iceman” for his coolness in critical situations. He has since moved forward with trying to trademark the name, but it has not come without controversy, as former NBA star George Gervin recently criticized the seeming appropriation of the epithet.

In a recent interview with Front Office Sports, however, Williams justified the decision as just following trends:

“It’s more or less people making clothing or people making things like that. And I can’t control what people are making of me, or anything like that, and putting the name on it. So it’s just to control that aspect of it. That was the main reason of doing it.”

When asked about Gervin’s comments on him, he denied any simmering animosity between them:

“It’s all respect to George. I didn’t know personally, and I understand, what he’s trying to do. We haven’t talked, him and I, and we may talk at some point. But it was nothing.”

He also revealed that he initially did not like the “Iceman” as his nickname, but eventually grew to appreciate it.