Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams recently presented an autographed jersey to Pope Leo XIV, a gift that may offer a glimpse of the team’s upcoming uniform design. The jersey, shared on social media by Williams’ foundation, appears to be a Bears road uniform with distinct color variations that deviate from the traditional style.

Unlike the Bears’ usual road jerseys, which feature white fabric with navy blue numbers bordered in orange, this jersey displays orange lettering and numbers outlined in navy blue. This color reversal suggests it could be part of Nike’s new rivalries series, a collection of alternate uniforms introduced ahead of the 2026 season.

The Bears are scheduled to wear a featured rivalry jersey during their Christmas Day home game against the Green Bay Packers. The altered color scheme seen on the jersey sent to Pope Leo XIV may be indicative of this special edition uniform.

The jersey was personally delivered to the pontiff by U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch as part of a Fourth of July gift. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, hails from Chicago and is known to support several local sports teams, including the Chicago Bears and the White Sox. He has previously received visits and memorabilia from crews representing Chicago’s professional sports franchises.

This exchange highlights the ongoing cultural connections between sports figures and notable public figures, while also providing an early look at potential uniform updates for the Bears’ 2026 campaign.