Stephen A. Smith breaks down why Caleb Williams is his top quarterback from the 2024 NFL draft class. (2:18)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' attempt to trademark the moniker "Iceman" is facing scrutiny from a legendary NBA player who shares the same nickname.
George Gervin, the Hall of Famer and four-time NBA scoring champion, told ESPN that he was "caught off guard" when he learned that Williams had attempted to trademark "Iceman," the nickname that the quarterback earned during the 2025 season for his late-game performances that culminated with the Bears winning their first playoff game in 15 years.
"I've been the Iceman for 40-something years," Gervin said. "I never thought anybody would try to trademark it. He kind of knocked me out the box."
On March 16, Caleb Williams Holding Inc. filed four trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office related to the "Iceman" nickname. According to the trademark application, goods and services related to the name include athletic sporting goods and equipment, water bottles, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, hats, eyewear and downloadable posters and digital trading cards.
On March 20, Gervin Interests LLC filed two trademark applications for "Iceman" and "Iceman 44," the latter of which references the jersey number Gervin wore throughout his NBA career. In 1987, the San Antonio Spurs retired Gervin's number.
One of the biggest questions, according to trademark attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP, is how trademark rights are viewed. Gerben said Gervin could claim that even though he didn't file the trademark, he was using it before Williams even though Williams filed it first.
But because Williams filed his application first, the USPTO could accept his application and refuse Gervin's.
A decision on the matter is likely several months away.
If Williams' application is accepted, Gerben said, "George will have a 30-day period in which he can file a formal opposition to Caleb's applications and say they shouldn't be registered because I was using these trademarks long ago and the public associates the name with me."
Jerald Barisano, the president and CEO of Gervin Global Management, told ESPN that he and Gervin will plan to file an opposition with the USPTO if Williams' trademark application is approved and theirs is not. Gervin's publicist of 42 years also said that they will consider legal action in the future.
Gerben said neither party can file an opposition until a decision is made, but they could talk and come to an agreement at any time.
On Friday, Williams reposted a social media comment in which television sports personality Skip Bayless faulted Williams for an attempt to "steal George's all-time nickname." In a response on X, Williams wrote in his first public comments addressing the trademark controversy: "I was trying give you and everyone else the benefit of the doubt. About knowing business and being smart about it. But I guess not. Foolish of me!"
Idc about where your fandom stands. I was trying give you and everyone else the benefit of the doubt. About knowing business and being smart about it. But I guess not. Foolish of me! Also words matter Skip Bayless. "Steal" Enjoy that podcast. https://t.co/PDMbllK1lx pic.twitter.com/fouK4A4zsz— Caleb Williams (@CALEBcsw) March 27, 2026
Idc about where your fandom stands. I was trying give you and everyone else the benefit of the doubt. About knowing business and being smart about it. But I guess not. Foolish of me! Also words matter Skip Bayless. "Steal" Enjoy that podcast. https://t.co/PDMbllK1lx pic.twitter.com/fouK4A4zsz
There is one other wrinkle, too. UFC legend Chuck Liddell filed for a trademark in 2023 for "Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell." Gerben said the USPTO could decide that mark is similar to both Williams' and Gervin's.
"The USPTO could easily, easily refuse Caleb Williams' application and George Gervin's application," Gerben said. "Because of Chuck's pending applications waiting there first."
Messages left with Liddell and his trademark attorneys were not immediately returned to ESPN.
Gerben said it was "a little unusual" for three prominent athletes to call themselves "the Iceman."
The Spurs offered their support for Gervin on the team's X account, posting a graphic of Gervin sitting on a throne of ice blocks with the caption, "there's only one Iceman."
Reached by phone Thursday, Gervin said he felt forced to file a trademark application after learning that Williams had already done so four days prior. Gervin and Barisano said they had attempted to trademark "Iceman" in 2023 when the attorney they hired to file with the USPTO died of a heart attack.
Though Gervin said he has not spoken with Williams or any members of Williams' marketing team, he said he would like a chance to work something out between the two parties.
"I'm quite sure me and him going to get a chance to talk," Gervin said. "I can kind of bet on that. We're both men. I'm an older man. He's a younger man. Me doing a little research on him, what I found out about him, he respects older athletes.
"I hate it the most because, man, he's a special young guy getting ready to come up. His potential is great and he does have ice in his veins. But that name is already taken up."
Barisano said their focus is to let the process play out before any action by them.
"We're not happy and we'll let it play out, but we're not running away from this guy," he said. "We're going to fight him tooth and nail to the end."
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