Bears QB Caleb Williams: Caddix logo covered after $35,823 in fines

Caleb Williams taped over the logo on his Caddix cleats for the first time this season. The Chicago Bears quarterback took the field with the cover in place during Monday night's 34-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. This move ended a public standoff with NFL officials that had spanned two weeks.

The financial penalty for the dispute reached a total of $35,823. League rules allowed only Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour to display their logos on the field. Williams wore the Caddix cleats with the mark visible during Week 6, resulting in a fine of $11,941. He repeated the action in Week 7, triggering a second fine of $23,882.

Williams cited a desire to reduce distractions as the reason for his change. He told reporters after the game that he wanted to minimize media attention on the issue. "Just to calm things down," Williams said. "It was a big week and not here to create any B.S. towards the team. I want to keep that to a minimum from my side. Obviously I get a lot of media and so just trying to minimize that as much as possible."

The quarterback initially resisted the league's uniform policy. In the days leading up to the Seattle game, he told ESPN that he would not cover the logo. The NFL holds the power to suspend a player for repeated violations. Williams faced that risk on the field, but the logo was taped over by the time warmups began on Monday.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson expressed confidence in his quarterback's decision-making before the game. "He's all about the team and I know he's not going to hurt the team," Johnson said on Saturday. The coach expected Williams to prioritize the group over individual preference.

Williams argues that the Caddix cleats offer better safety and comfort. He described the footwear as a scientific approach to staying healthy and on the field. The shoes feature patented SmartStuds technology. Dozens of NFL players now wear the brand, including Joe Flacco, who first used them in 2024.

Flacco, who invested in the company, has offered to cover Williams' fines. The Caddix company also made a similar financial offer to the player. These offers suggest Williams may not lose money personally, even though the logo will remain covered during games.