Gervin irked Bears’ Williams filed trademark for ‘Iceman’

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ try to trademark the moniker “Iceman” is going through scrutiny from a legendary NBA participant who shares the identical nickname.

George Gervin, the Corridor of Famer and four-time NBA scoring champion, instructed ESPN that he was “caught off guard” when he discovered that Williams had tried to trademark “Iceman,” the nickname that the quarterback earned in the course of the 2025 season for his late-game performances that culminated with the Bears successful their first playoff recreation in 15 years.

“I have been the Iceman for 40-something years,” Gervin mentioned. “I by no means thought anyone would attempt to trademark it. He type of knocked me out the field.”

On March 16, Caleb Williams Holding Inc. filed 4 trademark purposes with the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace associated to the “Iceman” nickname. In accordance with the trademark utility, items and providers associated to the title embrace athletic sporting items and gear, water bottles, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, hats, eyewear and downloadable posters and digital buying and selling playing cards.

On March 20, Gervin Pursuits LLC filed two trademark purposes for “Iceman” and “Iceman 44,” the latter of which references the jersey quantity Gervin wore all through his NBA profession. In 1987, the San Antonio Spurs retired Gervin’s quantity.

One of many greatest questions, in keeping with trademark legal professional Josh Gerben of Gerben IP, is how trademark rights are considered. Gerben mentioned Gervin might declare that although he did not file the trademark, he was utilizing it earlier than Williams although Williams filed it first.

However as a result of Williams filed his utility first, the USPTO might settle for his utility and refuse Gervin’s.

A choice on the matter is probably going a number of months away.

If Williams’ utility is accepted, Gerben mentioned, “George could have a 30-day interval wherein he can file a proper opposition to Caleb’s purposes and say they should not be registered as a result of I used to be utilizing these logos way back and the general public associates the title with me.”

Jerald Barisano, the president and CEO of Gervin World Administration, instructed ESPN that he and Gervin will plan to file an opposition with the USPTO if Williams’ trademark utility is authorized and theirs isn’t. Gervin’s publicist of 42 years additionally mentioned that they are going to take into account authorized motion sooner or later.

Gerben mentioned neither celebration can file an opposition till a call is made, however they may speak and are available to an settlement at any time.

On Friday, Williams reposted a social media remark wherein tv sports activities persona Skip Bayless faulted Williams for an try to “steal George’s all-time nickname.” In a response on X, Williams wrote in his first public feedback addressing the trademark controversy: “I used to be attempting provide you with and everybody else the good thing about the doubt. About realizing enterprise and being good about it. However I assume not. Silly of me!”

Idc about the place your fandom stands.

I used to be attempting provide you with and everybody else the good thing about the doubt. About realizing enterprise and being good about it. However I assume not. Silly of me!

Additionally phrases matter Skip Bayless.
“Steal”

Take pleasure in that podcast. https://t.co/PDMbllK1lx pic.twitter.com/fouK4A4zsz

— Caleb Williams (@CALEBcsw) March 27, 2026

There’s one different wrinkle, too. UFC legend Chuck Liddell filed for a trademark in 2023 for “Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell.” Gerben mentioned the USPTO might determine that mark is just like each Williams’ and Gervin’s.

“The USPTO might simply, simply refuse Caleb Williams’ utility and George Gervin’s utility,” Gerben mentioned. “Due to Chuck’s pending purposes ready there first.”

Messages left with Liddell and his trademark attorneys weren’t instantly returned to ESPN.

Gerben mentioned it was “somewhat uncommon” for 3 distinguished athletes to name themselves “the Iceman.”

The Spurs supplied their help for Gervin on the workforce’s X account, posting a graphic of Gervin sitting on a throne of ice blocks with the caption, “there’s just one Iceman.”

Reached by cellphone Thursday, Gervin mentioned he felt pressured to file a trademark utility after studying that Williams had already performed so 4 days prior. Gervin and Barisano mentioned that they had tried to trademark “Iceman” in 2023 when the legal professional they employed to file with the USPTO died of a coronary heart assault.

Although Gervin mentioned he has not spoken with Williams or any members of Williams’ advertising workforce, he mentioned he would really like an opportunity to work one thing out between the 2 events.

“I am fairly positive me and him going to get an opportunity to speak,” Gervin mentioned. “I can type of wager on that. We’re each males. I am an older man. He is a youthful man. Me doing a little analysis on him, what I came upon about him, he respects older athletes.

“I hate it probably the most as a result of, man, he is a particular younger man on the point of come up. His potential is nice and he does have ice in his veins. However that title is already taken up.”

Barisano mentioned their focus is to let the method play out earlier than any motion by them.

“We’re not completely satisfied and we’ll let it play out, however we’re not operating away from this man,” he mentioned. “We’ll struggle him tooth and nail to the top.”