Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has drawn an unbelievable amount of attention to his new favorite cleat brand, Caddix, after getting hit with back-to-back fines by the NFL following impressive wins against the Falcons and Patriots in what was described as displaying an “unauthorized logo” violation in regard to his choice in footwear.
The Week 6 fine was for the sum of $11,941 and was doubled up by the league office ($23,882) following the same exact infraction in Week 7, for a grand of total of $35,823, with possibly more to come.
While the incredibly supportive CEO of Caddix, Jack Rasmussen, has made it loud and clear he would be more than happy to pay any and all fines for Williams wearing his brand, current backup QB for the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco, has thrown his feet into the ring in regard to taking care of these ever-growing cleat fines being lobbed at the 24-year-old rising star.
Joe Flacco Sticks Up For Caleb Williams and Caddix, Volunteers to Pay Further NFL Fines
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“If Caleb [Williams] gets fined for wearing Caddix again, I’ll pay the fine myself,” Flacco told ESPN.
“I’ve worn these [Caddix] cleats for years, and I know firsthand the difference they make,” Flacco continued.
“When you’re playing at this level, you need equipment you can trust. This isn’t about making a statement or breaking the rules just to break them. It’s about wearing gear that works for you and helps keep you safe on the field. If Caleb believes in Caddix the way I do, I’m happy to stand behind him.”
With Flacco having been in the NFL for a whopping 19 seasons, from Super Bowl Champion quarterback to an always ready, widely respected plug-and-play backup, Williams probably could not have found a better advocate in the 41-year-old veteran, who was playing professional football for sevens seasons before Caddix even existed.
It’s important to note that Flacco, per ESPN, is listed as one of Caddix’s four athlete advisors and, less than 24 hours ago, was also listed among the 12 NFL players on the company’s official “Athletes” page, although none of them — for reasons not entirely clear — are no longer featured on said page.
The NFL just fined Caleb Williams nearly $12,000 for wearing cleats designed to potentially reduce non-contact injuries.
The cleats are made by Caddix, a relatively new company backed by former NFL players Joe Flacco, Todd Heap, and Dennis Pitta. Even Tom Brady has worn them.… pic.twitter.com/tIiMajfKzQ— Joshua Owings (@Oshow_Owings) October 26, 2026
Nevertheless, in Week 8, Williams and the 5-2 Bears will be traveling to Seattle to face the Seahawks for a major standalone game on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, with a healthy chance that Caddix receives even more free advertising and perhaps some discussion from reportedly dueling announcing duo, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
Although, regardless of the brand’s continued media attention, as Rasmussen stated to ESPN, “From a safety metric perspective, Caleb’s [Caddix] cleats are one of the safest pairs players can wear.”
With the given dramatics thrown aside, at least for the moment, that’s really all that matters.
Related: NFL Doubles Fine on Caleb Williams for Another ‘Unauthorized Logo’ Violation
