Caleb Williams's Painted Nails Take Center Stage on Madden NFL 27 Cover

For Caleb Williams, painting his nails for EA Sports’ Madden NFL 27 cover was a no-brainer. The Chicago Bears quarterback didn’t hold back for the special occasion. With his arms crossed over his chest and hands facing front, Williams wears an intricate set that pays homage to his city, team and sport.

It’s the first time an NFL player has had painted nails on the video game’s cover. But colorful manicures have long been embedded in Williams’ personal style, and he’s even inspired fans to follow suit, so the photoshoot was the perfect opportunity to showcase his signature style. “It’s a celebration of what I started,” Williams tells Teen Vogue over a Zoom call days before the cover reveal.

Like many aspiring players and football fans, a Madden NFL cover was a rite of passage for Williams. He recalls receiving the annual editions of the video game as birthday and Christmas gifts over the years, dreaming of making it to the major league one day. “It’s a childhood dream to be in this position,” he says. “I can only be grateful for this moment and this opportunity. It took a lot of energy, effort, dreaming, and aspiring to be in this position. Hopefully, we can run it back at some point.”

Ahead of the Madden NFL 27 drop on Wednesday, June 3, Teen Vogue chats with Caleb Williams about gracing the cover, staying true to his personal style, and defying stigmas in sports.

Teen Vogue: How are you feeling ahead of the cover’s official release?

Caleb Williams: I’m really excited about this moment, not only for myself but for my teammates and for the Bears. A couple of weeks ago, one of my good friends, Cole Bennett, told me that I was the first Bears player to grace the cover of a Madden game [in English]. That made it even more special for me.

TV: I was going to ask about that! How do you feel about representing not only yourself, but an entire organization and legacy? Do you feel any pressure?

CW: I can’t say it’s pressure—it’s more work to get to this point, and then it finally happens. For me, negativity and small victories fuel me. That’s how I go about things and how I keep myself motivated. This is another dream that’s been on my checklist that’s been officially checked off.