Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to stand his ground.
Williams has appealed the $11,941 fine from the NFL over his unauthorized footwear–advanced tech cleats–per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio on October 26, and he has some noteworthy support.
Moreover, Florio noted that Williams intends to argue that “the shoes are safer than the shoe options that are officially licensed by the NFL.”
“He has worn the same type of shoe throughout the 2026 preseason and during all regular-season games in which he has played. He was not fined for Week 1 and Week 2,” Florio wrote, noting Williams “has yet to be fined for the Week 7 Thursday night game against the Patriots.
“It’s his intention, we’re also told, to continue wearing the shoes.”
Florio noted the unknown ramifications of such a decision. He included the possibility of officials preventing Williams from playing with the logo visible.
Bears QB Caleb Williams Gets Good News After Punishment From NFL
Caleb Williams Expected to Continue Wearing Caddix Cleats
Players are supposed to be warned about potential violations before games from an on-hand crew of officials. Their crew includes former players. The NFL has stated that it prefer not to fine players for such violations.
At the very least, Williams appears to be opening himself up to more and, possibly, increased fines. A second offense can incur a fine as high as $23,882, per the NFL. He apparently does not have to worry about his first fine if the NFL refuses to rescind it, either.
“Caleb didn’t sign a deal with us,” Caddix founder Jack Rasmussen posted on LinkedIn on October 26, adding that they “have not paid him and are not paying him” and that Williams “bought our cleats because they’re the only ones built with SmartStuds™ to release under injurious load, reducing the force responsible for non-contact knee and ankle injuries.
“So here’s our position: Caddix will cover Caleb’s fines.”
Rasmussen added, “We respect the league’s rules on branding. But no player should have to choose between the cleat that adds to performance and the logo on the side.”
Caddix Cleats features a team of medical consultants as well as ties to multiple NFL quarterbacks and other players. Their list of official athletes including in other sports. Florio believes this sets up an “interesting situation” for the NFL.
“If a player subjectively believes that a given shoe that isn’t made by a company that pays the NFL for the privilege of displaying its logo is safer, should the player be prevented from wearing it?” Florio wrote, adding, “Then there’s the separate question of whether objective data supports that the shoe is safer. If that’s the case, it will be another example of the commitment to health and safety yielding on occasion to dollars and cents.”
Bears Trade Rumors Good News for Caleb Williams
Williams could be in for more good news, albeit of a far different kind. Multiple NFL insiders continue to link the Bears to potential impact activity at the 2026 trade deadline. It is just over two weeks away as of this Monday.
The Schultz Report’s Jordan Schultz reported on “The Pivot” on October 26 that he had heard rumblings of the Bears showing interest in multiple defensive players.
Schultz named popular speculative targets Khalil Mack, Josh Sweat, and DeForest Buckner.
He also noted that the Bears could be in the mix for a player who has not gotten much attention as a potential trade candidate. The most important thing, though, is that Schultz was not alone in pushing the Bears as buyers before the deadline.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also speculatively linked Mack to the Bears during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday. Schefter cited the edge rusher’s previous stint in Chicago.
There has been plenty of smoke. Time will tell about the fire.
The Bears’ defense has performed better than expected in many ways. That said, bolstering the unit could do wonders. That is especially true if Williams and the offense can continue to show the kind of efficiency they have the past two weeks, particularly in the passing game.
Leave a Reply