NFL Star Caleb Williams Defends Wearing ‘Unauthorized’ Cleats Despite Getting Slapped with Thousands of Dollars in Fines
NFL Star Caleb Williams Defends Wearing ‘Unauthorized’ Cleats Despite Getting Slapped with Thousands of Dollars in Fines
Skyler CarusoFri, October 30, 2026 at 9:04 PM UTC
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Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears takes the field against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter of the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 18, 2026.Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty; Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty -
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams said Caddix cleats reduce strain on his tendons and joints during games
Williams has received fines totaling more than $35,000 and plans to wear the cleats against Seattle
Chicago is 5-2 and sits second in the NFC North after defeating the Patriots 30-24
Caleb Williams is prioritizing his health.
The Chicago Bears quarterback, 24, explained why he plans to continue wearing “unauthorized” cleats during games despite being hit with an approximate $12,000 fine each time, telling media in a press conference that injury prevention is at the forefront of his decision.
“I’m huge into trying to stay on the field,” he told media on Wednesday, Oct. 28. “I’m huge into trying to be healthy. It’s a rough game and things like that, so the cleats, they’ve been great. They’ve been super comfy and they’ve worked.”
Williams wears cleats by Caddix; however, only Nike, Adidas and Under Armour have partnerships with the NFL. After the QB’s Week 6 game against the Atlanta Falcons, he received an $11,941 fine because he was “in violation of the NFL Uniform and Equipment Rules.”
Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears scrambles during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 18, 2026 in Atlanta.Credit: Todd Kirkland/Getty
Specifically, the letter he received informing him of the violation called out the “unauthorized logo” that was displayed on his cleats. After continuing to wear Caddix cleats in the Week 7 game against the New England Patriots, the NFL hit Williams with a $23,882 fine, reported NBC Sports.
“They are a science-type of cleat,” he explained. “It’s something that focuses on when you plant on the hard plants on turf or grass, they call them SmartStuds, and they move when you move in these hard plants. They take tension off of your tendons, your joints and all of that.”
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“So over the course of a long career or over the course of a long year... when you take that percentage off consistently over a period of time, you know, you get to have the chance, a higher chance of being healthy,” he said, adding, “So that’s what I focus on.”
According to Caddix research, per its website, cleat design directly impacts how much grip an athlete experiences. When there is too much rotational traction, the foot can “lock” to the surface, driving torque up the leg and into the knee; and therefore, makes the shoe part of the injury risk equation.
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Caleb Williams on Oct. 18, 2026.Credit: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty
“I try to be healthy. They’re smart cleats,” emphasized Williams. “They’re science cleats, and they’ve been working for me. A bunch of other guys wear them in the league, and they’re forward-focused on making sure players stay on the field, and that’s what I’m always focused on.”
Williams told ESPN on Wednesday he does not plan to cover or hide the Caddix logo when he wears them for Chicago’s next game at Seattle on Monday.
The appeal of the quarterback’s fine for Week 6 has not yet been resolved. Presumably, the NFL will continue to impose fines unless and until he complies; however, NBC Sports reports that neither fine letter warns him that he could be kept from playing with the Caddix cleats.
The Bears defeated the Patriots 30-24 on Oct. 22. The win improved Chicago to a 5–2 record so far in the 2026 NFL season, sitting in second place in the NFC North division.
Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears on Oct. 18, 2026.Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty
“We want you to be you, we want you to do as you do. We want you to wear what you wear on game day, we want you to dress how you dress, we want you to do this because we want it to be the most real version,” he recalled. “It’s nice, it’s freeing — and obviously, they were a great staff to work with.”
This isn’t the first time Williams has turned heads for his style choices, despite this one being health-related. In June, the EA Sports Madden NFL 27 cover star spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about why he feels it’s “freeing” to wear his signature painted nails both on and off the field.
“That’s what’s cool about Madden and EA and the cast that we had there. They wanted me to be myself... they wanted that energy,” Williams told PEOPLE of the team encouraging him to be himself for the moment, which is widely considered one of the highest off-the-field honors for an NFL player.
“We want you to be you, we want you to do as you do. We want you to wear what you wear on game day, we want you to dress how you dress, we want you to do this because we want it to be the most real version,” he recalled. “It’s nice, it’s freeing — and obviously, they were a great staff to work with.”
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
