Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has ended his two-week standoff with the NFL over his unapproved Caddix cleats, covering the brand's logo during Monday night's 34-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Williams had been fined $11,941 in Week 6 and $23,882 in Week 7 for wearing the cleats without covering the logo, bringing the total to $35,823. Despite stating earlier that he would not cover the logo, Williams complied before the game after the league warned he could be barred from playing if he continued to violate the uniform policy.
"Just to calm things down," Williams said after the game. "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."
NFL rules permit only Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour logos on the field. Players may wear other brands but must cover the logo. Williams has worn Caddix cleats all season, citing their patented "SmartStuds" technology and comfort. The cleats are also worn by dozens of NFL players, including former quarterback Joe Flacco, who is now an investor in the company and offered to pay any fines Williams incurred. Caddix also offered to cover the fines, according to ESPN.
Bears coach Ben Johnson expressed confidence in Williams' decision, saying, "He's all about the team and I know he's not going to hurt the team."
