When sports performance coach Dr. Tom Gormely called Caddix last year, he hinted that a high‑profile quarterback wanted to try the company’s cleats. The call turned out to be from Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
From a phone call to a national spotlight
Williams started using Caddix’s cleats this season. The NFL fined him $11,941 in Week 6 and $23,882 in Week 7 for wearing an unauthorized logo, but Caddix offered to cover the penalties and even supplied a blank pair for his Monday‑night win over Seattle.
“Just to calm things down, man,” Williams said, acknowledging the effort to keep the partnership smooth.
What makes Caddix different
Caddix’s cleats feature flexible, “smart” studs that move with the player’s foot, reducing strain on knees, ankles, tendons and joints. Williams praised the comfort, saying the shoes feel “super comfy” and help him cut more efficiently on both grass and turf.
Founder Jack Rasmussen, who started the company after witnessing former Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles suffer an ACL tear, says the technology was born from a desire to solve a real footwear problem. Rasmussen, a former college punter and biomechanics student, filed a patent with his father and has been selling the cleats for 19 months.
Growing adoption among NFL players
According to Rasmussen, more than 80 NFL players now use Caddix cleats, including Seattle wide receiver Cooper Kupp, Pittsburgh cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Buffalo tight end Dalton Kincaid, and San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who has been whitening out the logo for two years to avoid fines.
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco was among the first group of roughly 25 players to adopt the shoes in 2024, and former Ravens tight ends Todd Heap and Dennis Pitta are investors in the company.
Business impact and future plans
For a Baltimore‑based startup with four employees and just under $2 million in revenue last year, the Williams exposure is a “cash cow,” according to University of Oregon sports‑business professor Peter Stolpe. The free advertising could translate into tens of millions of dollars.
Caddix is currently raising a funding round and hopes to expand its product line beyond performance cleats, possibly into lifestyle footwear.
Local and national significance
The story underscores how a small, faith‑driven entrepreneurial effort can gain national traction through a high‑profile athlete, aligning with the values of hard work, family, and individual liberty that many communities cherish.
Original reporting: Capitol City Now (WTAX 1240 Springfield) — read the source article.
