Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams developed a knack for pulling out dramatic, game-winning plays late in games during the 2025 NFL season. Due to his fourth-quarter excellence, Williams embraced the nickname “Iceman,” a moniker that seemed to accurately describe the ice in his veins during the game’s biggest moment.
Turns out, there already was an “Iceman” in sports, and he’s not too happy about Williams trying to trademark that nickname.
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NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin decided to fight against Williams’ trademark of the “Iceman” moniker. Gervin, 73, told the Chicago Sun-Times that he respects Williams, but the “Iceman” moniker “is taken.”
Gervin added, “All I’m saying is: Young fella, we’ve already got one ‘Iceman.’”
Following Williams’ excellent 2025 season, a company titled “Caleb Williams Holding, Inc.” submitted four trademarks related to “Iceman” on March 16. Williams filed the trademark so he could sell goods and services using the phrase, per the Sun-Times.
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Four days later, Gervin Interests LLC filed trademarks for “Iceman” and “Iceman 44,” a reference to Gervin’s jersey number.
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While Gervin was known as “Iceman” much earlier than Williams, his late registration for the trademark was due to confusion over “the death of a business associate,” Gervin Global Management president and CEO Jerald Barisano told the Sun-Times.
It will likely takes months before the issue is sorted out and the “Iceman” trademark is awarded. Gervin, however, said he plans to contest the decision if Williams is given the trademark.
“I’m really the ‘Iceman’ in sports,” Gervin told the Sun-Times.
Gervin spent 12 of his 14 NBA seasons as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. Over his career — which stretched from 1972 to 1987 — Gervin became known as “Iceman” due to his ability to “drop 25 and not break a sweat,” Gervin revealed in a 2016 chat on ESPN.
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Gervin was a 12-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, four-time scoring champ and was named to the league’s 75th anniversary team. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.