Caleb Williams showed up to his preseason games this year rocking short socks, and it didn’t take long for people to start asking what that might cost him.
The NFL has some of the strictest uniform rules in professional sports, and players know that even the smallest detail can get pricey fast.
Former NFL defensive end Isaac Rochell shared that he was fined $6,000 just for wearing socks that weren’t pulled up high enough, and that fine isn’t a one-time deal. If you keep breaking the rule, the league keeps adding to the bill week after week.
Although for someone like Caleb, who is earning $10 million a year, $6,000 a game isn’t much to pay for a style statement, but it speaks volumes about his leadership.
Of course, some veterans push the limits. Tyreek Hill, one of the fastest and most explosive receivers in the league, has been spotted playing without socks altogether. Hill is an established superstar, and if his routine helps his performance, the fans tends to let it slide.
Caleb Williams, on the other hand, is still a second-year quarterback trying to prove himself, and that makes this sock issue a much bigger deal.
Caleb Williams’ Sock Choice Sparks Backlash
When Caleb Williams took the field with his socks halfway down during preseason, it didn’t just catch the eye of fans. It drew fire from analysts and former players. ESPN analyst Sam Acho went after the Bears’ quarterback, criticizing his appearance and questioning his leadership. “Look at the socks that are halfway down. He did the same thing last week. You saw DeAndre Swift do the same thing as well,” said Acho.
“It’s not a huge deal. But when you’re looking at a franchise quarterback, a leader of the team, you want to be in full uniform. We want to be a guy that other teammates can look to. And it’s something you know what I mean? When you have penalties and your sloppy you’re saying ‘man this guy doesn’t even focus on the little things. So, those are two things, the sloppiness from his play and trying to focus on the little things.”
Former quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick also chimed in after watching Williams’ performance. “Main thing I took away from the Bears game yesterday was Caleb Williams was the only guy on offense that wore his socks low…” Fitzpatrick wrote, pointing out how noticeable it was on the field.
For a QB who has a lot to prove, this kind of critique matters. Veterans like Fitzpatrick and analysts like Acho aren’t just nitpicking fashion; they’re connecting it to focus, discipline, and the image of a leader.
In a league where optics and details matter as much as stats, Williams’ sock choice has now become part of the conversation about his readiness to lead the Bears.
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