Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will continue wearing what he calls his “science cleats,” even if the NFL keeps fining him.
Williams was fined $11,941 for wearing Caddix cleats against the Falcons. The NFL allows only Nike, Adidas and Under Armour shoes to display their logos on game day. Williams wore black cleats with a prominent Caddix logo against the Falcons and did so again Thursday against the Patriots. He’s yet to be fined from the Patriots game, but it’s likely on the way.
“I’m focused on being able to be out here for the guys,” Williams said Wednesday. “And if that can give me a small percentage up [as a fine] and it works, then that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Caddix claims its “smartstuds” flex and release when players move, reducing stress on joints. About 40 players wear them — as does former star Tom Brady.
Williams wore all-white Caddix cleats earlier in the season and was not fined. Asked whether they prevented his hamstring injury from being any worse when he wore them against the Vikings, Williams demurred.
“If I had that answer, I’d be a trillionaire and sitting somewhere nice …” he said with a smile. “I think my joints, my ankles and my knees and my feet haven’t bothered me as much from the other cleats that I’ve worn. … They’ve worked for me, and I feel that I feel a difference. That’s my opinion, and somebody else can have another.”
Caddix CEO Jack Rasmussen said in a statement that the company will pay any fine for him.
