NFL47 min ago2 minute read

Caleb Williams Covers Cleat Logo to Avoid NFL Fines

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams covered his Caddix cleat logo to stop NFL fines while helping his team beat Seattle 34-17.

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Williams covers up his cleats to avoid league fines

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams decided to cover up his cleat logos on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks. Williams wore matte black cleats with no visible logo during Chicago's 34-17 victory. He said he made the choice because he wanted to calm things down for his team.

The league fined Williams $11,941 on Oct. 20 for wearing an unauthorized logo on his cleats in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons. The league then fined him another $23,882 for wearing Caddix footwear in Week 7 against the New England Patriots. Williams has appealed the first fine, with a hearing set for Nov. 10, and is expected to appeal the second fine as well.

Why the quarterback prefers custom footwear

Unlicensed footwear brands can be worn during NFL games, but their logos cannot show on the field. Only Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour pay the league millions of dollars to display their logos on shoes.

Williams does not have an endorsement deal with Caddix. In fact, he turned down pitches from multiple shoe companies because past footwear made his knees, ankles, and feet hurt. His dad, Carl, asked quarterbacks coach Tom Gormely if there were other cleat brands to consider. Gormely vetted Caddix and brought the shoes to Williams.

Williams worked out in the cleats over the offseason, sprinting and pivoting to give feedback. Rasmussen flew to Florida in June for 24 hours to get final measurements for the custom O.G. cleat model. Williams said his joints feel much better in them compared to other cleats he has worn.

A small brand makes noise across the league

Jack Rasmussen founded Caddix, a startup cleat company whose moveable cleats aim to reduce rotational force and prevent knee and ankle injuries. Joe Flacco was the first NFL player to wear them on the field in 2024 while playing for the Indianapolis Colts. Flacco is also one of 14 investors in the company.

Both Caddix and Flacco offered to cover the fines Williams received. Caddix even put up billboards in Chicago offering to pay the money. Word about the brand has spread among players through social media and word of mouth. Rasmussen said all 32 NFL teams have bought at least one batch of the cleats.

What it means for the next game

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears (NFL, Mon, 09 Nov): Chicago Bears win 69%, Tampa Bay Buccaneers win 31%; projected score Chicago Bears 25, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20. Our safest pick: Bears to win.