Caleb Williams Refuses To Ditch Unauthorized Cleats Despite $35,000 In NFL Fines

Caleb Williams stands firm despite $35K in fines© X formally Twitter

Caleb Williams knows the price of his shoes, and he is paying it again. The Bears quarterback, 24, will wear unapproved Caddix cleats against Seattle on Monday, even though the NFL has already fined him more than $35,000 in two weeks. He says he will not cover the logo. His argument is about his body, not his brand. Only Nike, Adidas and Under Armour hold league partnerships, so Caddix is out of bounds. Williams says staying healthy matters more than the money.

Caleb Williams Caddix cleats fines: what the NFL has charged so far

The trouble started after Chicago's Week 6 game against the Falcons. The NFL fined Williams $11,941 for breaking its uniform and equipment rules, and the letter pointed to an "unauthorized logo" on the cleats. He wore them again against the Patriots, and NBC Sports reported a second fine of $23,882. The appeal of the first fine has not been resolved. NBC Sports also reports that neither letter threatens to bar him from playing in the shoes.

Williams told ESPN on Wednesday he has no plan to tape over the logo. He said as much at his press conference on Oct. 28: "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."

Why Caleb Williams says the Caddix cleats protect his body

He explained the design in plain terms. "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."

Williams also thinks in seasons, not single games. "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."

Caddix says on its website that too much rotational traction can lock a foot to the field and send torque into the knee. That claim comes from the company, not an independent study.

"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."

The Bears beat the Patriots 30-24 and sit at 5-2, second in the NFC North.