NFL players sport custom cleats for philanthropic 'My Cause, My Cleats' campaign
In Week 13, NFL players can wear whatever custom cleats they want. By lifting its ban, the NFL has created it’s “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign which the league is encouraging players to wear personalized shoes that support a good cause and raise awareness for issues like domestic violence, racism and animal cruelty.
Over 500 players will wear custom cleats and have worked with brands like Nike, Under Armour and Adidas to design and create their custom kicks.
“One of the great NFL traditions is how our players passionately support important causes in their communities and around the globe every year,” said Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner. “They are incredibly creative by nature so we are not surprised how they are seizing the opportunity this week with inspiring expressions of their charitable commitments on their cleats, online and through social media.”
Some of the players who will sport their cleats include:
- Panthers’ tight end Greg Olsen who will tell the story of his son, T.J., who survived a heart defect, and will raise awareness for congenital heart defects and the HEARTest Yard initiative.
- Chiefs’ safety Eric Berry who will tell his story about his battle with cancer and raise awareness for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
- Cardinals’ running back David Johnson who was bullied as child and will use his cleats to show his work with STOMP Out Bullying to help other kids.
- Ten players across the league including Cardinals’ safety Tyrann Mathieu and Buccaneers’ wide receiver Mike Evans will wear gold cleats in support of the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) nonprofit organization which works to sideline racism.
During the campaign, a My Cleats, My Cause TV spot will air throughout multiple week 13 games, which features Jets’ wide receiver Brandon Marshall who designed his cleats in partnership with his Project 375 foundation, which works to promote awareness around mental health.