The NFL has fined Bears quarterback Caleb Williams $23,882 for wearing an “unauthorized logo” on his cleats during the Week 7 game against the Patriots, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. The fine doubles the $11,941 he was hit with for wearing the same forbidden footwear in Week 6 against the Falcons.
Caleb Williams (Credits: ESPN)
Caleb Williams’ Caddix cleat standoff with the NFL
The shoes are made by Caddix, which does not have a licensing deal with the NFL; the league’s approved brands are Nike, adidas, and Under Armour. Williams wore the same type of shoe throughout the 2026 preseason and all his regular-season games, but was not fined for Weeks 1 and 2, when the branding was harder to spot. He missed Weeks 3 through 5 with a hamstring injury.
Appeal, defiance, and who pays
Williams has appealed the Week 6 fine, arguing the Caddix shoes are safer than the officially licensed options — the cleats use SmartStuds technology designed to release under injurious load. Caddix CEO Jack Rasmussen has said the company will cover Williams’ fines, even though league rules generally prohibit fines being paid by anyone other than the player. Williams intends to keep wearing the cleats despite the escalating punishment.
Also Read: Quenton Nelson on Seahawks Trade: ‘It’s Awesome’ After Bittersweet Goodbye to Colts | Skattebo, Harbaugh Object to Lowering-Helmet Penalty: Maybe League Can Enlighten Us
A league-wide cleat rebellion
Williams is not alone. About 40 NFL players have been reported wearing Caddix cleats this season, including names like Cooper Kupp and Joe Flacco — though Williams is the one drawing the fines, and his $23,882 Week 7 fine is the largest so far. The NFL’s uniform and equipment rules allow players to wear other brands, but the logos must be removed or covered, a fix as simple as a piece of tape.
The Bears face the Seattle Seahawks on November 2, and Williams has until October 30 to appeal the Falcons fine. All eyes will be on his feet on Sunday: the black pair that shows the gray Caddix logo in plain view has now cost him more than $35,000 in fines, and the number keeps climbing as long as he refuses to cover it up.
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
