NBA Legend George Gervin Sounds Off on Bears' Caleb Williams Filing for 'Iceman' Trademark

The original "Iceman" is not a fan of Caleb Williams' attempt to trademark the nickname.

San Antonio Spurs legend George Gervin told ESPN's Courtney Cronin and Michael Rothstein that he was "caught off guard" by Williams trying to trademark the moniker.

"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."

According to Cronin and Rothstein, Caleb Williams Holding Inc. filed four trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office regarding the "Iceman" nickname on March 16. The application looked to trademark the nickname for sporting goods and various merchandise.

Gervin Interests LLC then filed two trademark applications for "Iceman" and "Iceman 44" on March 20. Gervin wore the jersey number 44 for the Spurs and it's now retired.

Williams earned the Iceman nickname during the 2025 campaign as he led the Bears to multiple comeback victories and game-winning drives. Chicago had its best regular season since 2018 and won its first playoff game since 2010.

While the young quarterback makes a strong case for the Iceman nickname, Gervin has been known as the Iceman for more than four decades, earning the moniker well before Williams was even born.

According to Cronin and Rothstein, trademark attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP noted that Gervin can claim that, even though Williams first filed the trademark, he was using the nickname first. Still, the USPTO could accept Williams' trademark application and deny Gervin's.

If the USPTO accepts Williams' trademark, Gervin can file a formal opposition to it within a 30-day period. Jerald Barisano, the president and CEO of Gervin Global Management, said that they plan to oppose Williams' potential trademark, according to Cronin and Rothstein.

But Williams and Gervin aren't the only ones hoping to trademark the nickname. Cronin and Rothstein added that former UFC icon Chuck Liddell filed a trademark for "Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell" in 2023, only adding another complication to the legal battle.