Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Oct 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) reacts prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) walks for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. The Bengals scored 35 points in the second half to win 35-13 on the road.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is yet again facing a fine from the NFL should he opt to wear Caddix cleats against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. But he won’t need to worry about paying that fine.
The NFL fined Williams $23,882 for wearing the cleats in Week 7 against the Patriots, double the amount it fined him after he wore them in his first game back from a hamstring injury in Week 6.
The fine is due to the fact that the cleats display an “unauthorized logo.” The NFL has exclusive deals with Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour for player gear. If a player wears a shoe made by another brand, the logo must be covered.
Caddix cleats claim to reduce the risk of lower-body injury due to their design, and Williams plans to continue to wear them. Though somebody else has stepped up to pay the tab.
Joe Flacco is covering Caleb Williams’ $23k fine for the “unauthorized logo” on his Caddix cleats, totaling $35,823 over two weeks.
Caddix also put up a billboard in Chicago in support.
📸: Getty / Caddix https://t.co/TSM7UU0Uuu
— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) October 30, 2026
Joe Flacco Offers To Pay Caleb Williams’ Fines For Caddix Cleats
On Friday, Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Joe Flacco stepped up to the plate and offered to pay the fines for Williams.
“If Caleb gets fined again for wearing Caddix, I’ll pay the fine myself,” Flacco said. “I’ve worn these cleats for years, and I know firsthand the difference they make. 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.”
Flacco, who first began wearing the cleats in 2024, is an investor and advisor to the company.
It’s entirely possible that Caddix is paying Flacco to play the fines for Williams. But either way, the Chicago Bears star has to be thrilled with the news.