The painted fingernails of quarterback Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears as he prepares prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field. | Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams made his NFL debut today with a color-coordinated message on his fingernails that will endear him to Bears fans.

“#18 DA” & “BEARS” is the message Williams, the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick from USC, painted on his fingernails in the Bears’ orange and blue colors. Even the NFL approved.

Related

Williams is rightly unapologetic about painting his nails, something he started in high school to honor his mom.

“My mom does nails and she’s done it for her whole life,” Williams said in a video with former USC quarterback Matt Leinhart. “She’s always been around me and nobody else does it and I always like to do new things.” Pointing to his hands, he said: “This is where all the gold comes from.”

@usc.athletics

mom knows best! #usc #football #nailart

♬ Chill Vibes – Tollan Kim

Of course, some mouth-breathing football fans have taken to call Williams less than a man for painting his nails. One fan posted today: “Gayest thing I’ve seen today.”

But as Outsports’ Cyd Zeigler wrote this year: “Just to be clear what their rules apparently are: Painting your face in team colors is perfectly acceptable behavior. Taking your shirt off and painting your bare chest in 0-degree weather is as heterosexual as you can get.”

I love that the NFL’s official X account tweeted out Williams’ nails and it shows they get that the haters are in a minority. The Bears are struggling in their season opener but Williams is still poised to have a bright career and I look forward to what he paints on his nails every week.