- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
Three of Chicago's brightest young athletes have developed a close friendship that spans the city's major sports. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Bulls forward Matas Buzelis and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong have become a notable trio, regularly supporting one another's careers.
Buzelis, 22, watched Williams' wild-card playoff game from a cold tub on Jan. 10 after the Bulls defeated the Mavericks. Williams rallied the Bears from a 21-3 halftime hole to a 31-27 victory over the Packers, with Buzelis celebrating a key fourth-and-8 jump pass to Rome Odunze. Crow-Armstrong took in the game from a suite at Soldier Field, later remarking that his head was about touching the ceiling.
Williams and Buzelis first met at USC during the quarterback's junior season, while Crow-Armstrong connected with Williams through social media direct messages. The circle has grown to include Odunze and Lyrical Lemonade founder Cole Bennett.
The friendship has produced public cross-sport moments, including Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard wearing Williams' orange Bears jersey on Jan. 18, and Williams sporting Bedard's No. 98 sweater the following night at a Blackhawks game. Buzelis said the group constantly pushes each other, noting they want to one-up each other every time.
Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, will lead the Bears (4-2, 0-2 NFC North) against the Patriots on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Crow-Armstrong, who debuted in September 2023, is expected to be named NL MVP on Nov. 12.
Source: ESPN - Thu Oct 22, 6:00 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).