NFL keeps fining Caleb Williams for refusing to cover logo of “science” cleats worn by over 80 players
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been fined $35,823 across two games for wearing Caddix cleats with an unauthorised logo. The case has drawn attention to the NFL’s rules on visible branding and raises questions about how they apply to equipment marketed as helping reduce injury risk.
Caddix CEO Jack Rasmussen said Williams bought the cleats himself and was not sponsored or paid by the company, which has four employees and has sold cleats for less than two years. The fines were $11,941 after Chicago’s Week 6 game against Atlanta and $23,882 after Week 7 against New England; the article says Williams wore the cleats before Week 6 without being fined. Rasmussen says more than 80 players have worn Caddix cleats, including Kyle Juszczyk, Cooper Kupp and Jalen Ramsey, and that the company has offered to cover Williams’s fines. The NFL had not responded to the article’s request for comment.
In short
- Caleb Williams was fined $35,823 for wearing Caddix cleats with a visible logo.
- Caddix says Williams bought the cleats and received no payment.
- The company says more than 80 NFL players have worn its cleats.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The NFL can argue that consistent rules on visible logos protect league sponsors, preserve a uniform appearance and prevent players from giving unauthorised brands valuable exposure. Applying the rules even when a player buys the equipment himself may make them clearer and fairer, while any claimed injury-reduction benefit can be assessed separately from branding.
The case against
Williams’s case can be framed as a question of proportionality: if he was not paid to promote Caddix and the cleats are marketed as helping reduce injury risk, fining him for their logo may put commercial interests ahead of player choice and safety. The reported use of the cleats by many players, and the absence of a fine before Week 6, also raise questions about whether the rule is being applied consistently.
Explained simply
The NFL sets rules for the kit players can wear during games, including which logos may be visible. These rules apply to equipment such as cleats, the boots players wear on the field, and can lead to fines when kit does not meet league requirements.
Caleb Williams is the Chicago Bears’ quarterback, while Caddix is a small company that makes cleats it markets as helping reduce injury risk. Its CEO says Williams bought the pair himself and was not paid to wear them; he also says players from other teams have worn the brand.
The case has drawn attention to how the NFL’s branding rules apply to newer equipment promoted for its possible safety benefits. The league’s view on the specific cleats was not available in the report.