It’s very rare for the entire NFL to be swept up in a weird quirk affecting a particular player. However, after just one game of his professional career, Washington Commanders seventh-round rookie, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, has the focus of the entire league squarely on him. An impressive training camp followed by an electric debut has the Commanders ready to pitch their wagon to him.
But for the rest of the league, it is a rather confusing nickname that he’s anointed himself, and it has already become a sensation. Despite having the first name “Jacory,” he has made it clear that he wants to be known by the name “Bill.” A rather perplexing choice, it has left fans across the NFL confused. Here, try to explain the idiosyncrasy that has made this choice a reality.
Meet Bill: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
The sensation that is Croskey-Merritt had a three-year collegiate career where he played for a different program each year. Starting at with Alabama State, he rushed for 1,164 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman.
Next year, he joined Mexico State and had another 1,000-yard season. Unfortunately, he did not get to play more than one game in his third stop at Arizona, thanks to a dispute involving his jersey number.
As a result, his stock fell further, and he was taken in the seventh round as the 245th overall pick. His draft position, though, has quickly become a referendum on the league. Thoroughly dominating the offseason, he was immediately a major part of Washington’s plan for the future.
Fans got a taste of that dominance in the first week of the season as he rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown against an excellent New York Giants defensive front. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Week for his performance.
But before he earned his first accolade, Croskey-Merritt was going viral for a confusing reason. Referring to himself as “Bill,” the first-year running back wanted the fan base to call him by that singular name only.
The origin of the nickname can be traced back to his youth. During his time with the Wildcats, he explained, “I got the nickname Bill from having a bald head when I was little. I used to have a low haircut, so people joked on me and said I looked like the character Little Bill.”
At the time, he said the name “stuck” with him. But he’s clearly embraced it, and it is catching on like wildfire as his exploits are making him a fan favorite in record time. Already, the Commanders have made an excellent video in the “Little Bill” style, with the caption simply reading, “Bill.”
Bill.
🔗 https://t.co/fQMbxcCqqP pic.twitter.com/iL5cRmQdxw
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 10, 2025
Fans are accepting it, his performance is backing it, and it has already made him a rookie sensation. Now, it’s all about following through and cementing the Bill legacy.
