# NFL Has Fined Caleb Williams $35,823 for Wearing 'Science' Cleats and He Won't Cover the Logo, OutKick Reports

The Bears quarterback has been fined over two games for the unauthorized Caddix logo. The company's CEO says more than 80 players wear its cleats and none has been fined.

- Section: [Culture](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/culture/)
- Published: 2026-11-01
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/nfl-fines-caleb-williams-caddix-science-cleats-logo-refuses-cover-flacco-outkick-fox-news/

The NFL keeps fining Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams for the logo on his cleats, and he is not covering it up, OutKick reports.

The fines. Williams was fined $11,941 for displaying an "unauthorized logo" in Week 6 against the Falcons, then $23,882 for the same violation in Week 7 against the Patriots. That totals $35,823. The cleats are from Caddix, a young company that says its SmartStuds technology can reduce the risk of non-contact injuries. Williams believes it can help prolong his career after his recent return from a hamstring injury.

The company's view. CEO Jack Rasmussen told OutKick that Williams is not a paid Caddix athlete. "I get why he was fined, 100%," he said, since Caddix is not a league sponsor and cannot afford to be. He said Caddix has four employees and has sold cleats for less than two years, and that more than 80 players wear them without being paid. Players named include Cooper Kupp, Marlon Humphrey, Jalen Ramsey, Derek Stingley Jr. and Dalton Kincaid. Rasmussen said he is not aware of any of them being fined, and that Williams may be singled out because he is "gonna be the face of the league."

Why the league cares. OutKick explains that the NFL charges Nike, Adidas and Under Armour tens of millions of dollars a year to be official apparel partners, and that other brands are expected to appear unbranded. The league's uniform inspectors check for violations before games and in locker rooms afterward.

Where it goes. Joe Flacco, who began wearing Caddix in 2024 and later invested in the company, told ESPN he will pay Williams's next fine himself. OutKick says Williams has appealed the first fine and reportedly plans to keep wearing the cleats uncovered, which it says could eventually lead to the league keeping him off the field.

What to keep in mind. The NFL did not respond to OutKick's requests for an explanation of why Williams alone was fined, and it was not clear in the report why he was not fined earlier when he wore the cleats. The 80-player figure and the claim that none has been fined come from the company's CEO.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News (OutKick)](https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/nfl-keeps-fining-caleb-williams-refusing-cover-logo-science-cleats-worn-over-80-players)