How Nail Polish and a Mom Shaped the NFL’s First Draft Pick
Courtesy of The Los Angeles Times
We all love a good mama's boy - especially one who does something to stand out in the name of remembering her.
Caleb Williams, the 2024 1st pick in the NFL draft, is headed to the Chicago Bears, and his painted nails are going with him. Williams' painted nails first caught people's attention everywhere during his college football career. He told People Magazine, "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." As a quarterback, Caleb's hands are vital to his team's success, but getting his nails done was not just about taking care of his hands.
Courtesy of ESPN
Williams won America's hearts when he said it was a way to represent and spend time with his mom, Dayna Price, a nail technician. In 2022, Williams told Good Morning America the story of how it all began.
“My mom was my inspiration. She’s been doing nails since I could remember. ... I [would play] my game or mess with my mom and kind of just sitting there [and] she’d always do my nails.”
The Williams' story started during Caleb's last year of high school, and since then, his nails have become a way to remember his mother both on and off the field. Even while using his nails to send messages to opponents, remind others of mental health hotlines, or simply stand out, Williams has always seen them as a reminder of the woman who brought him into this world - his mom, Dayna.
Millions witnessed Williams' unique relationship with his mom throughout his successful college football career. During his Heisman speech in 2022, he took a moment to praise his mom for simply being his mom.
“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.”
Dayna and Caleb's relationship goes beyond the bond of painted nails.
During the 2023 college football season, Caleb's raw emotions were on full display following a heartbreaking loss to the University of Washington. Cameras panned to Dayna, comforting her son as she became a shoulder to cry on during a devastating moment. This moment caught the attention of many people on social media and led Caleb to make this post from the Caleb Cares Foundation's Instagram page. The post highlighted the importance of emotional awareness in men, and if the Kelce's have taught America anything, it's that we love emotionally aware men.
Courtesy of 247 Sports
Caleb's emotional reaction to his mom's message after getting drafted by the Chicago Bears won over our hearts once again, reaffirming the bond between him and Dayna.
During the video, Dayna praises Caleb for not being afraid to be his authentic self and for achieving the vision he has had since he was 10. What pulled at my heartstrings the most was Caleb beings to thank his mom for all the time and encouragement she gave him. The tender video reminds us all of the incredible power and influence moms have on their children. From the countless hours they spend driving to practice to being a soft place to land when we fall, moms everywhere are the best cheerleaders we have.
So, this Mother's Day, we celebrate the moms whose kids dream of being professional athletes, the ones who support their children in living their dreams, who spend their whole lives cheering on their kids, and who help shape us into the people we are. We love you, we celebrate you, and we are grateful for your never-ending support.
Figure 4 Courtesy of People