Bears quarterback Caleb Williams switches to logo-free cleats amid NFL fine dispute

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams appeared on Monday in all-black cleats that lacked any visible logo, after the NFL fined him almost $12,000 per week for wearing cleats with an unauthorized brand mark. The change came as Williams sought to limit media scrutiny surrounding his footwear choice.

"Just to calm things down," Williams said when asked about the switch. "It was a big week and I'm not here to create any distraction towards the team, I want to keep that to a minimum from my side. Obviously I get a lot of media, and so just trying to minimize that as much as possible."

Williams has been using cleats made by Caddix, a company that promotes designs intended to reduce ACL and ankle injuries by allowing studs to release more quickly and limiting torque. He does not have an endorsement deal with Caddix but supports the product’s scientific claims.

The NFL, which maintains an exclusive partnership with Nike, prohibits players from wearing gear bearing logos from other sports apparel brands. League officials fined Williams $11,941 for the weeks he wore the Caddix cleats, classifying the logo as unauthorized. Earlier in the season, Williams indicated he would continue wearing the cleats despite the fines.

By opting for matte black, logo-free cleats, Williams appears to be compromising between his preference for the footwear and the league’s equipment regulations. It remains uncertain whether the NFL will permit further deviations from its approved gear policy.