Chicago QB’s Play Piques Collectors’ Interest
Chicago hobby shops are having trouble keeping cards of Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in stock. Collectors are craving any pieces that highlight the former USC star.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft has started his career blazing hot and is looking to be a fixture at Soldier Field for years to come. Through his first six games as a pro, Williams is 130-for-199 passing for 1,317 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions. During his last game in Week 6, Williams tossed three touchdown passes to help Chicago to a 4-2 record.
“Pretty much every time I put Caleb stuff in the showcase, it’s gone within a day,” said Chuck Wedick, who owns Heroes Sports Cards in Riverside, Illinois. “We’ve had probably about three or four of the Bowman U Chrome autos, but I don’t think any of those have lasted longer than a day.”
Wedick receives numerous calls and shop pop-ins daily from collectors looking for Williams cards. He shares the same message with every customer.
“‘We’re actively always looking to buy his stuff, so next time you’re in, we may have some,’” Wedick said. “Or if they want, I can put their name down on a list when we acquire some stuff.”
Topps has released a number of Williams cards in the last few years. He has cards, base and autograph versions, in 2022 Bowman University Chrome®, 2023 Bowman University Chrome, Bowman University Chrome Sapphire, 2024 TOPPS NOW® from draft night, and 2024 TOPPS NOW® after a masterful Week 6 performance.
“We have Bowman U blasters, and people are ripping those left and right chasing Caleb,” Bridgeport Hobby owner Rob O’Brien said.
O’Brien frequently runs IG story sales on his company’s Instagram page, @bridgeporthobby. When Williams cards hit the page, collectors need to be quick on the draw.
“He’s gone within probably the first 10, 15 minutes we have a story sale up,” O’Brien said.
Ronnie Holloway, owner of Elite Sports Cards and Comics in Chicago, is having the same issue in his shop: Williams cards are flying out of display cases as quickly as they see the light of day.
Elite Sports Cards and Comics is closed on Sundays, and Holloway opens his doors on Mondays at 11 a.m. If Williams is coming off a solid game the day before, Holloway will field calls from collectors interested in getting their hands on the quarterback’s cards.
“It’s been crazy trying to keep it in,” Holloway said. “I restock it every week. It’s been great.”
Since the pro football season is long and he isn’t sure when the next new Williams cards will be released, Holloway tries stockpiling Williams items as much as possible. Earlier this week, Holloway only had about 20 Williams cards left in reserve. Those will inevitably get snatched up pretty quickly.
Wedick has had some luck purchasing Williams’ cards from customers. However, with each game in which Williams shows he was the justifiable No. 1 overall pick, it’s getting harder for anyone to part with his cards.
“I had a customer the other day bring in a number of newer rookies, including Jayden Daniels,” Wedick said. “We bought the guys that we were looking for, and I always ask, ‘Do you have any Caleb’s, too?’ He said, ‘I’m going to hang onto Caleb.’”
Is Caleb Williams a Franchise Quarterback?
Chicago’s football team has arguably never had a franchise quarterback since its founding 105 years ago. Williams is hoping to change that.
Williams is trying to keep pace with Washington’s quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was selected directly after Williams in this year’s draft. Daniels is also off to a fabulous start with six passing and two rushing touchdowns. The top two picks will square off this Sunday at Washington’s newly named Northwest Stadium.
Diehard Chicago fans are starting to believe in Williams. His effectiveness on the field is translating to popularity off of it.
“Definitely a lot of hype about Caleb. He’s looking really good,” Wedick said. “But because we’re Chicago, we always have a tendency to be a little cautious on the quarterbacks. We’ve had a bad history.”
O’Brien has been impressed with what he’s witnessed so far from the calm and collected Williams.
“Caleb’s got all the pieces, and he’s showing kind of that swagger,” said O’Brien, whose shop is in Chicago near the White Sox’s stadium. “He’s not playing like a rookie, which is really cool to see.”
When Chicago drafted Justin Fields No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, he was billed as Chicago’s franchise quarterback. But that never happened. After three years in the Bears’ system, he was traded to Pittsburgh before the team drafted Williams.
“Everybody loved Fields; he was hyped,” Holloway said.
“With Caleb, it’s like he’s taking charge of his team. ‘This is what I want; this is what I need. You protect me here; I’m going to get that ball out.’ Sure enough, that’s what he’s doing. Fields didn’t do that like Caleb’s doing it.”
