What Is Chicago Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams’ Ethnicity?
After playing his college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and then at the University of Southern California, the Chicago Bears selected quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Caleb began his rookie season giving defenses fits and delivered a jolt to a Bears team had been lacking that for some time. Then in the 2025-26 season, the signal caller led his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
With so much attention on Williams now, fans in the Windy City and beyond want to know all about his life off the field and his family. Here’s more on Caleb and his parents.
Who are Caleb Williams’ mother and father?
Caleb was born on Nov. 18, 2001, in Washington, D.C., to parents Carl Williams and Dayna Price. According to Caleb’s website, he is of mixed ethnicity as his father is African-American and his mother is Native American.
Carl and Dayna were athletes in college as well. His dad played football at Oklahoma State, while Dayna played volleyball and basketball at the University of Maryland.
When Caleb first got involved in football as a child, he played running back and linebacker before switching to quarterback. Carl began working closely with Caleb daily to help him train doing early morning workouts and getting body recovery treatments, whatever it took for his son to reach his full potential.
Caleb mentioned both his parents in his speech after he won the Heisman Trophy. When speaking about Danya, he said, “Thanks for always being my mom first. The woman behind the scenes, who has a smile on her face and is willing to help others. You’re an inspiration to me in many ways.”
And about Carl Caleb added, “Thank you for showing me the way. It may seem to go unnoticed and appreciated but you mean the world to me. We’re in this together and I wouldn’t want any other way … You instilled a work ethic in me at a young age that I can’t thank you enough for. From the training sessions to the late-night practices. Even opening Athletic Republic so my guys and I could go train. You’re always there for me, making sacrifices in your life so I can achieve mine. My dreams, which eventually became our dreams.”
Caleb’s ‘self-expression’ is also a tribute to Danya
During his college days, Caleb became famous not just for his play on the field but also for his colorful fingernails. He explained that he paints his nails as a tribute to his mother, who worked as a nail technician.
“My mom was my inspiration,” Caleb shared on Good Morning America. “She’s been doing nails since I could remember … [and] she’d always do my nails.”
After turning pro, the quarterback told People, “I think the nails thing kind of took everybody by surprise. I’ve been doing it before college, but it took everybody by surprise, just because you don’t always see male athletes who play football paint their nails. But I think it’s just another way of expression.”
Related: What Is Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love’s Ethnicity?
