Caleb Williams plans to keep wearing Caddix cleats despite an NFL fine for their unauthorized logo. He says he believes their rotating studs may reduce wear and injury risk, and he’s willing to prioritize that potential benefit over league rules barring the logo.

By the Numbers
  • Williams was fined $11,941 for wearing the cleats in Week 6.
  • Caddix’s CEO and Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco have reportedly offered to cover future fines.
Yes, But

The NFL can penalize players for displaying logos from companies without league deals. The cleats’ injury-reduction claims are central to Williams’ reasoning, but the supplied information doesn’t establish how effective they are.

State of Play
  • Williams wore the cleats in the preseason and Weeks 1, 2, 6 and 7.
  • As of Thursday, no additional fine for Week 7 had been publicly acknowledged.
What's Next

Williams says he’ll continue wearing the cleats, so further fines remain possible if the NFL enforces its logo rules in future games.

Bottom Line

Williams is betting that the cleats’ potential health benefits outweigh the cost of violating the league’s uniform rules—and he may have others willing to help pay the bill.