National Football League

NFL Week 13: Best of #MyCauseMyCleats (Photos)

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The NFL has allowed all of its players to wear expressive cleats in Week 13 to support causes of their choice. Here are the very best of #MyCauseMyCleats.

Often chastised for being the Not-Fun-League, the NFL has wisely thrown overwhelming support in its players’ decision to be expressive with their cleats…at least for Week 13. The NFL will let its players wear cleats in support of the charities, foundations, and causes they stand behind.

Here are the very best cleats from the #MyCauseMyCleats campaign in the NFL in Week 13. You can see them all by using the hashtag of Twitter.

Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Matt Ryan will be wearing cleats in support of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Ryan has been a huge supporter of CHOA since being drafted by the Falcons No. 3 overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

He often makes visits to the kids at Children’s to bring smiles to their faces. Ryan has embraced being part of the Atlanta community for the last decade. Choosing to showcase his commitment to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta only further illustrates how stand-up of a guy he is.

It’s no surprise that Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry would chose to honor those with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with a pair of purple cleats. The 2015 NFL Comeback Player of the Year was diagnosed with that type of cancer midway through the 2014 NFL season.

Berry’s triumph over cancer has been well publicized. Everything he does on the football field is a shining example of a guy who beat cancer. His lavender purple-ribbon cleats would only aid in his fight to end Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and cancer in general.

Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens

Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Jarvis Landry is wearing custom cleats in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Landry has been a staunch supporter of this foundation since experiencing the hardships associated with the disease via his late high school friend.

He promised his friend that he would use his platform as a football player in her honor to bring awareness to cystic fibrosis. You can see Landry’s cleats in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on display versus the Ravens on Sunday afternoon.

No doubt that Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. would choose to throw support in ending domestic violence. Sunday against the Dolphins would not be Smith’s first time he has decorated his cleats to show that he wants to eradicate domestic violence from the national narrative.

Only this time, Smith won’t be fined or asked to remove his cleats displaying messages about ending domestic violence. Smith had been vocal in criticizing former Giants kicker Josh Brown in his domestic dispute with his wife stemming from the Pro Bowl.

Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith will display on his cleats the name of his own foundation: The Torrey Smith Family Fund. Smith created his foundation soon after being drafted out of the University of Maryland.

Growing up, Smith faced a plethora of hardships on his way to being a phenomenal student-athlete for the Maryland Terrapins. His foundation was created to help underprivileged kids be able to succeed by giving them the necessary support and resources.

Bears running back Jordan Howard’s cleats are bringing notice to pulmonary fibrosis. Howard lost his father to this disease. The Bears have not had a great season at 2-9, but the rookie tailback out of Indiana University is having a great season.

Howard has rushed for 766 yards on 149 carries and two touchdowns. Though the Bears are pretty much out of it in the NFC, Howard is a promising young player they can look forward to see running the football for the foreseeable future. He clearly is running for his late father in the Windy City.

Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals

Philadelphia Eagles rookie franchise quarterback Carson Wentz is choosing to be religious with his spikes on Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Wentz’s cleats have AO1 emblazoned on them for ‘Audience of 1’ to symbolize that he is serving the Lord.

He also will have Romans 5:8 across one of his cleats. Most NFL athletes are choosing to support charities and other initiatives on their spikes. Wentz’s decision to go religious could be perceived as controversial, but his faith is clearly important to him in his young NFL career.

On Sunday versus the Eagles, Bengals running back Rex Burkhead will be one of the many participating in Week 13’s #MyCauseMyCleats campaign sweeping across the NFL. Burkhead’s spikes will honor the Team Jack Foundation.

Team Jack is in support of ending pediatric cancer. The Foundation’s namesake is Jack Hoffman, the young boy who famously scored a rushing touchdown at the Nebraska Cornhuskers 2013 spring game. Burkhead starred for Nebraska and has been a Team Jack supporter ever since.

Oct 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers

One of the best players on the Houston Texans is their standout wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. While Hopkins hasn’t had as many catches as last year with Brock Osweiler throwing him the ball, he is still Houston’s most explosive weapon.

Hopkins will being wearing these spikes to help raise awareness to hopefully end domestic abuse once and for all. One cleat will be pink with blue accents, while the other will be inverted to showcase domestic equality.

The Green Bay Packers are playing in a huge game against the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon. Maybe wide receiver Davante Adams will have a few big plays in the receiving game?

Either way, he will be showing his support of AIDS awareness. He wants people to be safe and get regularly tested. He has a RIP Eazy-E, a crucial member of NWA who passed away from AIDS complications back in 1995 after his condition went untreated and undiagnosed.

Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars

Von Miller knows a thing or two about locating the quarterback in the opposing backfield. Miller is one of the best sack artists in the NFL today. He almost always is seen wearing glasses when he is not on the field.

Miller will be supporting his foundation SupportVon’s Vision, a non-profit to ensure that kids who need glasses are able to get them. He is one of the many players using his spikes to help push his foundation this weekend. Vision is important to Miller.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is supporting several causes with his cleats on Sunday. On one cleat, it will be supporting the Blake Bortles Foundation, which strives to help special needs children lead normal lives.

Bortles’ other shoe will be in support of the first responders. He had to ask special permission to be granted the right to have the shield on his cleat.

November 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long (95) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

Los Angeles Rams at New England Patriots

Rams defensive end William Hayes will be wearing these cleats to show support of the HollyRod Foundation. HollyRod is the foundation of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete and his wife actress Holly Robinson Peete.

Their foundation tackles both child autism and Parkinson’s Disease. The puzzle pieces all over Hayes’ spikes make it obvious that he is showing support for autism awareness.

New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long is on the precipice of playing in his first NFL playoff game after spending his first eight years with the then St. Louis Rams.

Long will be rocking a pair of cleats supporting the Chris Long Foundation and his initiative called Waterboys. Waterboys is designed to bring clean drinking water to impoverished areas of East Africa.

Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

Golden Tate isn’t just an explosive perimeter weapon in the Detroit Lions passing game. He is rocking a pair of cleats that will showcase his foundation: the Golden Future Foundation.

Tate’s foundation is to help make the transition easier for families who have members serving overseas in the military. He understands the sacrifice and the financial hardship that many military families feel.

New Orleans Saints safety Roman Harper has had a lengthy NFL career since being a second-round pick out of the University of Alabama back in 2006. He has helped mentor several young kids along the way, too.

On Sunday against the Lions, Harper will be wearing these cleats in support of his foundation Harper’s Hope. Harper will definitely be able to make headway with his foundation with these awesome cleats of his.

Nov 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) scans the defense before taking the snap against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders

The Buffalo Bills have played well this season thanks in large part to their dynamic quarterback/running back tandem of Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy.

Both of the Bills’ explosive offensive playmakers will be participating in #MyCauseMyCleat. McCoy will be throwing support to the ALS Association. Taylor will be rocking a pair of cleats to the recognize the Olmsted Center for all the work they do for the visually impaired.

Derek Carr has been playing like a league MVP for the 9-2 Oakland Raiders. He is also a staunch supporter of Valley’s Children hospital. Childrens’ helped saved the life of Carr’s newborn son back in 2013.

Carr is one of the emerging stars in the NFL and that camera is always on his for his stellar player and energetic personality. Valley’s Children will be getting a lot of love from one of its biggest supporters in Carr.

Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals

Kirk Cousins has been a major reason behind the success of the Washington Redskins the last two seasons. He has the Redskins once again in the NFC Playoff mix and this soon-to-be franchise quarterback is about to get paid.

On Sunday versus the Arizona Cardinals, Cousins will be rocking a pair of cleats throwing support of the International Justice Mission. IJM’s goal is to end the injustices of slavery still happens in some parts of the world.

The Arizona Cardinals have one of the most electrifying defensive players in all of football in cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu has become a star in this league shortly after leaving LSU.

On Sunday, Mathieu will be one of the many NFL athletes to be wearing a pair of cleats to Sideline Racism. Mathieu and others will push the conversation forward to further promoter racial equality.

Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers

The New York Giants are 8-3 thanks to a great receiving corps and an improving defense. One of the most notable players on the Giants is wide receiver Victor Cruz.

Cruz will be wearing these cleats in support of his foundation, the Victor Cruz foundation which was created back in 2012 to help kids in an array of ways.

One of the most obvious players to keep an eye on during Cleat Week has to be Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams. Williams has a few pink locks in his hair every day to honor his late mother and relatives who passed away from breast cancer.

No doubt that Williams will be wearing a pair of pink shoes to honor the many women who have dealt with or are dealing with breast cancer and their families.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Diego Chargers

In their Week 13 game against the San Diego Chargers, a trio of Tampa Bay Buccaneers special teamers Roberto Aguayo, Bryan Anger, and Andrew DePaola will be rocking these pair of cleats.

These spikes will be honoring Bo’s Effort to help bring the conversation forward about mental illnesses to the mainstream, trying to break their stigma.

San Diego Chargers safety Darrell Stuckey said that being a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) helped him to become the player that he is today.

Naturally, Stuckey will be wearing a pair of cleats to show support of FCA and the positive messages they send through christianity and sports. He now hosts a football as a part of FCA.

Nov 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) looks on prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks

The Carolina Panthers have one of the best tight ends in football in Greg Olsen. He has been an outstanding player and a standup guy for years in the NFL.

On Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks, Olsen will be wearing a pair of cleats to support the Heartest Yard program at Levine Children’s hospital in Charlotte.

On the other side of the ball on Sunday Night Football, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is one of the best cover corners the NFL has ever seen. He is highly emotional, highly intelligent, and highly skilled.

He will be wearing these cleats on Sunday to throw support at his foundation Blanket Coverage, created to help kids in low-income areas get the support they need to succeed.

Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets

On Monday Night Football, Indianapolis Colts safety Matthias Farley will be supporting the charity of a man who he will be competing against in that game.

Farley will be rocking a pair of cleats to throw support in New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall’s foundation, the Brandon Marshall Foundation, which helps bring awareness to borderline personality disorder, from which Marshall has suffered from throughout his playing career.

Jets kicker Nick Folk will be wearing a pair of cleats in support of Childrens’ Tumor, an organization designed to bring an end to neurofibromatosis. Folk’s shoes will be all shades of purple, blue, and green.

It’s nice to see that the NFL and its players can find an ideal compromise when it comes to displaying messages on ones cleats. Hopefully Cleat Week is an overwhelming success and brings awareness to all the foundations, charities, and initiatives NFL players support.

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