The NFL says player safety is a top priority, but apparently, wearing cleats designed to help prevent injuries can cost you a pretty penny.
asserted
wearing → say → penny
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been fined a whopping $35,823 over two games for wearing Caddix cleats, a company only a few years old with only four employees, which claims its technology can reduce the risk of non-contact injuries through its SmartStuds technology.
uncertain
technology → fin → technology
CEO Jack Rasmussen, after explaining that Williams is not, and has not been a Caddix sponsored athlete, nor has he ever been paid by the company, told OutKick, "I get why he was fined, 100%.
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he → explain → OutKick
I totally get it.
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I → get → it
We're not a league sponsor, and we can't afford to be or want to be a league sponsor."
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we → afford → ?
Williams was initially fined $11,941 for displaying an "unauthorized logo" during Chicago's Week 6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
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Williams → fin → Falcons
The NFL then doubled down, issuing another $23,882 fine for the same violation against the New England Patriots in Week 7.
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NFL → double → Week
While he understands why the league fined Williams, Rasmussen made his company's support extremely clear saying, "Caleb Williams bought [our cleats], liked them, wore them, and now he's being penalized for liking them and wearing them, and we're taking a stance where we're going to support a player who's looking out for his best interest."
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who → understand → interest
Rasmussen also said, "We're a small company.
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We → say → ?
We've been selling cleats for less than 2 years.
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We → sell → years
I have a total of four employees, so this is certainly an uphill battle for us, but it's a battle we're happy to be a part of."
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we → have → us
The interesting aspect of this whole saga is the fact that Caleb Williams has worn these cleats before the Bears Week 6 match-up against the Atlanta Falcons, but he wasn't fined.
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he → wear → Falcons
I reached out to the NFL for an explanation but have yet to hear a response.
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I → reach → response
In case you weren't aware, the reason you only see Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour logos on NFL players' feet is because the NFL can charge those brands tens of millions of dollars per year to be "official apparel partners" of the league.
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NFL → see → league
While players can wear cleats from other manufacturers, such as Caddix or New Balance, which is worn by Josh Allen, they are expected to wear non-branded cleats like Allen does.
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Allen → wear → cleats
Notably, in the same vein, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey wears Bruce Bolt gloves but the lightning bolt logo is absent from the glove, as well as the company name.
Rasmussen also told me that McCaffrey's teammate Kyle Juszczyk is one of 80 players that has, or continues to wear Caddix cleats.
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that → wear → cleats
"We have over 80 athletes wearing them.
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athletes → have → them
We haven't paid them a dollar," Rasmussen stated.
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Rasmussen → pay → dollar
"We actually have players actively leaving and turning down endorsement deals from other companies to wear Caddix for free.
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players → have → Caddix
It's not about us finding the biggest guy, it's about allowing guys to wear this cleat because it's better for them."
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it → find → them
Other NFL players that wear Caddix cleats include: Cooper Kupp, Bubba Baker, Marlon Humphrey, Jalen Ramsey, Derek Stingley Jr., and Dalton Kincaid.
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that → wear → Kupp
As I told Rasmussen, "Those are some pretty notable names."
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Those → tell → Rasmussen
Kupp is a former Super Bowl MVP, coming off another Super Bowl win.
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Kupp → come → win
Ramsey was the highest paid cornerback in NFL history a few short seasons ago.
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Ramsey → pay → history
It's an impressive list, especially when brands are knocking at these athletes doors to represent their brand and products.
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brands → knock → brand
As far as Rasmussen is aware, not a single one of these 80+ players have been fined by the NFL like Caleb Williams has.
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Williams → fin → NFL
If they were, I'm sure he'd be inclined to pay their fine just as he and his company have offered for Williams'.
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he → incline → Williams
Speaking directly to the lack of fines for other players, Rasmussen said, "People have been wearing Caddix cleats in NFL games for 3 years.
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People → speak → years
Joe Flacco wore them all last year, had that record breaking game actually against the Bears, ironically enough, and then he was on Netflix wearing Caddix logos all over television, and no one said a word.
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one → wear → word
I think it's just very precarious timing, because you have this player in Caleb Williams, who we all know is gonna be the face of the league here pretty soon."
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we → think → league
I also reached out to the NFL for an explanation as to why Caleb Williams has been the only NFL player fined for wearing Caddix cleats.
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Williams → reach → cleats
I have yet to receive a response.
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I → have → response
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco, who began wearing Caddix cleats in 2024 and subsequently became an investor in the company, has offered to cover Williams' future fines.
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who → begin → fines
"If Caleb gets fined again for wearing Caddix, I'll pay the fine myself," Flacco told ESPN.
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Flacco → fin → ESPN
"This isn't about making a statement or breaking the rules just to break them.
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This → make → them
It's about wearing gear that works for you and helps keep you safe on the field.
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that → wear → field
But more good news for Caddix from a marketing standpoint, Caleb Williams is not backing down and has essentially become a non-paid spokesperson for the brand.
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Williams → back → brand
"I'm huge into trying to stay on the field.
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I → try → field
I'm huge into trying to be healthy," Williams told reporters responding to news of his fines.
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Williams → try → fines
They're science cleats, and they've been working for me."
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they → work → me
…and 38 more, not listed.
The Aporia
