Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase caused a viral moment during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show when he confused the names of the first two quarterbacks selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. The mix-up happened as Chase attempted to reference Chicago Bears’ quarterback, blending the two names in a humorous slip.
Williams was the No. 1 pick in the draft, followed by Daniels at No. 2, both widely regarded as promising young talents expected to shape the league’s future. While discussing players who wore the Guardian Cap, Chase mistakenly called out “Caleb Daniels,” drawing laughter and confusion from the panel.
Details of the On-Air Name Confusion
During a conversation with Bengals teammate Tee Higgins and host Pat McAfee, Chase spoke about the 2025 Guardian Cap wearers, initially naming Nick Bosa but then confusing Williams and Daniels’ names. When McAfee asked if he meant Jayden Daniels, Chase insisted on “Caleb Daniels,” a name that doesn’t exist in the NFL.
“Caleb Daniels, absolute beast,” McAfee responded. “Shoutout Caleb Daniels.”
The panel briefly praised the invented quarterback until McAfee questioned,
“Who’s Caleb Daniels?”
which set the studio into laughter. Chase later admitted he was referring to Caleb Williams but admitted to getting the last name wrong.
“I don’t know what the f**k his first name is,” Chase said. “What’s the name? What’s the quarterback for the Bears?”
He clarified that the quarterback’s first name was Caleb but mixed up the surname during the live discussion.
Similar Misidentification by Coach Mike McCarthy
This is not the first time Caleb Williams’ name has been confused publicly. Earlier in the 2025 NFL season, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy also bungled the quarterback’s name on the same show, accidentally saying “Kalib” instead of Caleb.
“Frankly, I wouldn’t be too hard on Kalib because he’s different,” McCarthy said, prompting McAfee to question who he meant.
When pressed for clarification, McAfee responded bluntly,
“It’s Caleb! Jesus Christ, you’re nowhere near it!”
The incident drew laughter and criticism from NFL fans then, and Ja’Marr Chase’s mix-up now seems set to receive a similar reaction from viewers.
Impact on Fans and the NFL Community
The interaction highlights how even established NFL personalities can slip up on player names, adding some levity to the often intense coverage of draft prospects and rising stars. As Chase and the quarterbacks in question continue their careers, moments like these remind fans of the human side of the sport.
With both Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels expected to be pivotal players for their teams, the mix-up has nevertheless brought some unexpected humor to the NFL discourse. Fans will likely remember Ja’Marr Chase’s “Caleb Daniels” line as a light-hearted anecdote amid the serious competitiveness of the league.
Who the hell is Caleb Daniels 😂😂😂#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/YeyVPfo1eK
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 4, 2026
