Caleb Williams Refuses To Back Down After NFL Fine For Unauthorized Cleats Logo

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams wears Caddix cleats, which led to an $11,941 NFL fine .© X/@ComplexSneakers

Caleb Williams had a reason to stick with his Caddix cleats, even when the NFL handed him a fine for wearing them. The Chicago Bears quarterback believed the footwear offered better protection, and he was not ready to give it up over a branding rule. His decision to keep wearing the shoes brought an $11,941 penalty after Chicago's Week 6 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Williams appealed the fine, and Caddix CEO Jack Rasmussen stepped in with an offer that could make the dispute more costly for the league's uniform rules than for the quarterback himself.

Why the NFL fined Caleb Williams $11,941

The fine was not about Williams wearing a particular style of cleats. It came down to the logo on them.  Caddix does not have an official footwear partnership with the NFL, and league rules require players to cover or remove logos from brands that are not authorized partners.

“Williams has appealed the fine, and his argument will be, we're told, that he believes the shoes are safer than the shoe options that are officially licensed by the NFL.He has worn the same type of shoe throughout the 2026 preseason and during all regular-season games in which he has played. He was not fined for Week 1 and Week 2,” Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio wrote,

The NFL fined Caleb Williams $11,941 for wearing Caddix cleats, and now the brand is covering the bill. Caddix's founder says the Bears QB paid for the pair himself and has no endorsement deal with the company. https://t.co/0PGb7j8oSX

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 26, 2026

That left Williams free to continue wearing the cleats, although doing so could bring further fines. He had already worn them in Chicago's Week 7 win over the New England Patriots without receiving another penalty.

Caddix offers to cover Williams' fines

Williams did not have an endorsement deal with Caddix. He had bought the cleats himself, making the company's response more unusual. Rasmussen said Caddix would pay the $11,941 fine and cover future penalties if the quarterback continued wearing its footwear.

The company's main selling point is SmartStuds technology, which is designed to release under heavy force and reduce rotational pressure on the knees and ankles. Caddix says the design aims to lower the risk of non-contact injuries.

Williams' decision carried added significance after a hamstring injury forced him out of Chicago's second game against the Minnesota Vikings. He missed the next three contests before returning to lead the Bears to consecutive wins over Atlanta and New England.

The move attracted comparisons to Nike's famous partnership with Michael Jordan, whose shoes drew NBA penalties during his rookie season in 1984.

Jordan already had a Nike endorsement deal, while Williams had no such agreement with Caddix.