The No Fun League is also the No Footwear League. More specifically, no footwear made by companies that don’t pay the league.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the league has fined Bears quarterback Caleb Williams $11,941 for displaying an “unauthorized logo” on his shoes during the Week 6 win over the Falcons in Atlanta.
Williams was wearing Caddix cleats, which do not have a deal with the NFL for the use of its shoes in NFL games.
Williams has appealed the fine, and his argument will be, we’re told, that he believes 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. He 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.
The fine letter, dated October 20, does not mention the possibility of Williams being prevented from playing with the Caddix logo visible on his shoes.
It’s an interesting situation for the league. 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?
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.
The Bears return to action next Monday night against the Seahawks. And it will make plenty of sense to eyeball the items that Williams has on his feet.