NFL players can wear custom cleats for charity this week without being fined

For one week only, NFL players will be permitted to wear custom cleats that deviate from the league’s uniform rules without being fined. The My Cause, My Cleats campaign has been developed by the NFL in partnership with The Players’ Tribune, and it allows players to wear cleats that promote charitable efforts that are near and dear to them in Week 13.

Over 500 players will be wearing custom cleats this week to showcase causes that are important to them.

“One of the great NFL traditions is how our players passionately support important causes in their communities and around the globe every year,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “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.”

New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall, a longtime, vocal mental health advocate, worked with children involved with his Project 365 foundation to design his cleats, which promote awareness of mental health issues. This process was featured in a television spot about the My Cause, My Cleats initiative.

The causes players are supporting vary greatly. Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is using his custom cleats to raise awareness of and support for congenital heart defects, like the one his son, Jeffrey, survived as an infant. Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson was bullied as a child, and his cleats will support the STOMP out Bullying organization.

Players are sharing the stories behind their cleats on The Players’ Tribune and on social media using the hashtag #MyCauseMyCleats.

Some players worked directly with Nike, Under Armour and adidas to design cleats promoting their causes, and some teams worked with independent designers to come up with custom cleats for this initiative.

Following this week, these custom cleats will be auctioned off by the NFL, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the cause the cleats were designed to support.

Players and causes involved include:

Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants WR — Make A Wish Foundation of NJ

Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals RB — Run Gio Foundation

Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs S — Hodgkin’s Lymphoma awareness

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars QB — The Blake Bortles Foundation

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints QB — Brees Dream Foundation

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders QB — Valley Children’s Healthcare

Kirk Cousins, Washington QB — International Justice Mission

Victor Cruz, New York Giants WR — Victor Cruz Foundation

Brian Cushing, Houston Texans LB — Brian Cushing Foundation

Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers LB — Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys RB — Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons RB — Devonta Freeman Foundation

Dont’a Hightower, New England Patriots LB — American Diabetes Association

T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts RB — Fathers and Families Center

DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans WR — Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse

Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers RB — Boys and Girls Club of Silicon Valley

DeSean Jackson, Washington WR — United Negro College Fund

Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles S — The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation

David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals RB — Stomp Out Bullying

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs TE — Eighty-Seven and Running

Ryan Kerrigan, Washington LB — Blitz for the Better Foundation

Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins WR — Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys LB — Sean Lee’s Dreambuilders

Deandre Levy, Detroit Lions LB — Enough SAID

Chris Long, New England Patriots DE — The Waterboys Foundation

Eli Manning, New York Giants QB — Tackle Kids Cancer

Brandon Marshall, New York Jets WR — Project Borderline

Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals S — RISE

Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers LB — Cure Duchenne

Devin McCourty, New England Patriots S; Jason McCourty, Tennessee Titans, CB — Tackle Sickle Cell

Josh Norman, Washington CB — Starz24

Braxton Miller, Houston Texans WR — American Heart Association

Von Miller, Denver Broncos LB — Von’s Vision

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers QB — Cam Newton Foundation

Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers TE — Receptions for Research

Brock Osweiler, Houston Texans QB — Ronald McDonald House Houston

Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals CB — Patrick Peterson Foundation for Success

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys QB — American Cancer Society

Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars WR — Allen Robinson’s Within Reach Foundation

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons QB — Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks CB — Blanket Coverage Foundation

Torrey Smith, San Francisco 49ers WR — Torrey Smith Family Fund

Devon Still, Houston Texans DT — Still Strong Foundation

Jaelen Strong, Houston Texans WR — American Cancer Society

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills QB — Olmsted Center for Visually Impaired

Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars TE — Episcopal Children’s Services

T.J. Ward, Denver Broncos S — T.J. Ward Foundation

Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles QB — Athletes in Action Foundation

Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets DE — T.E.A.M. 96 Foundation

DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers RB — The DeAngelo Williams Foundation

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks QB — Why Not You Foundation

Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB — Juvenile Diabetes Research Funding