The Chicago Bears are once again stepping onto the field with more than just football gear—they’re wearing their values on their cleats. For the third straight year, players, coaches, and staff are participating in the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative, turning game day into a platform for social impact. This year’s campaign, unfolding during the 2023 NFL regular season, sees over 1,800 members of the NFL Family—players, legends, and coaches—wearing custom-designed footwear to spotlight causes close to their hearts. It’s not just a fashion statement. It’s a movement. And the Bears have been part of it since the beginning.
A Movement Born in Neon Green
What started as a quiet act of personal expression has exploded into one of the NFL’s most visible community programs. The initiative began when a single player—unnamed but bold—wore neon green cleats to raise awareness for a cause he cared about. That moment, years ago, sparked a chain reaction. Today, it’s a league-wide phenomenon. The NFL describes it as a player-led effort to unlock community strength, and the numbers back it up: more than 1,800 participants this season, spanning all 32 teams. The program’s slogan—“It takes all of us”—isn’t marketing fluff. It’s the foundation.The Bears’ Three-Year Commitment
The Chicago Bears joined in 2021, making them among the earliest organizational supporters. Unlike some teams that dip in and out, the Bears have stayed consistent—each season, new faces join the effort, but the commitment remains. While the team’s official announcement doesn’t name specific causes or individuals, the pattern is clear: leadership isn’t just talking about community involvement. They’re showing up, cleat by cleat.What’s remarkable is the quiet persistence. No press conferences. No grand unveilings. Just players walking out of the locker room with designs that tell stories—some about mental health, others about food insecurity, veterans’ rights, or youth education. One Bears player might wear cleats honoring a sibling who battled cancer. Another might honor a local Chicago nonprofit that feeds families in Englewood. These aren’t generic logos. They’re personal. And that’s what makes the program powerful.
Technology Meets Compassion
This year, the initiative took a technological leap. The NFL partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help players design their cleats using AI tools. The technology doesn’t create the designs—it helps refine them. Players input their cause, their story, their colors, and AWS’s AI suggests layout options, color contrasts, and symbolic elements that resonate emotionally. It’s not replacing human intent. It’s amplifying it.Imagine a player from a small town in Mississippi who wants to honor his high school coach who started a scholarship fund. He types in the name, the year, the mission—and the AI suggests a subtle footprint design, echoing the coach’s nickname, “The Mentor.” That’s the kind of detail that turns a shoe into a memorial, a rallying cry, a conversation starter.
Stand Together: A Strategic Amplifier
Another layer of depth this season comes from the partnership with Stand Together, a national philanthropic network focused on tackling systemic issues like poverty, education gaps, and criminal justice reform. The group isn’t just sponsoring cleats—it’s helping tell the stories behind them. Through short documentaries, social media features, and community events, Stand Together connects fans with the real people behind the causes.“We’re not just matching cleats to charities,” said a Stand Together spokesperson in a recent interview. “We’re matching hearts to action. When a fan sees a Bears player’s cleats and learns about the food pantry in Aurora that feeds 500 kids a week, they don’t just click ‘like.’ They volunteer. They donate. They show up.”
Fans Get Involved—But How?
The My Cause My Cleats campaign has always been about more than the players. This year, the NFL explicitly invited fans to “get in on the impact.” But the details are still fuzzy. Are there online auctions for game-worn cleats? Will there be donation portals linked to each cause? Will local chapters host viewing parties? The league hasn’t fully laid out the mechanics—but the intent is unmistakable: this isn’t a spectator sport anymore.That’s the twist. What began as a quiet gesture by one player is now a call to arms for millions. And in Chicago, where community resilience has been tested by violence, economic disparity, and political division, the Bears’ continued participation feels less like a marketing move and more like a moral stance.
Why This Matters Beyond the Field
In a time when athletes are increasingly expected to take stands, My Cause My Cleats offers something rare: authenticity. No corporate sponsors dictate the message. No PR teams sanitize the cause. The cleats are chosen by the person wearing them. And that personal connection is what makes fans care.Compare this to other league-wide campaigns—some feel scripted, forced. This one? It feels organic. It’s the difference between a billboard and a handwritten letter. The Chicago Bears have understood that. For three years, they haven’t just worn the cleats. They’ve worn the responsibility.
And as the NFL prepares for Week 13—the traditional My Cause My Cleats window—the real question isn’t who’s wearing what. It’s: who’s watching? And what will they do next?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do players choose their causes for My Cause My Cleats?
Players select causes that have personally impacted them or their communities—whether it’s a family member’s battle with illness, a local nonprofit they volunteer with, or a social justice issue they’ve witnessed firsthand. The NFL provides guidelines but no restrictions on cause selection, ensuring authenticity. Some players partner with organizations like the American Cancer Society or local food banks, while others create funds in memory of loved ones.
What role does AWS AI play in designing the cleats?
AWS AI doesn’t design the cleats—it helps players refine their ideas. Using machine learning, the system analyzes thousands of past designs and suggests color palettes, layout structures, and symbolic motifs that align with the player’s cause. For example, if a player mentions “education,” the AI might recommend book icons or graduation caps in a way that’s visually balanced. It’s a tool, not a creator—keeping the human story at the center.
Are the cleats auctioned off, and where does the money go?
Yes, game-worn cleats are typically auctioned off through the NFL’s official platform, with proceeds going directly to the player’s chosen charity. In 2022, the program raised over $23 million nationally. While the Bears haven’t released their 2023 totals yet, past years saw individual players raising between $50,000 and $200,000 each, depending on their platform and cause.
Why hasn’t the Chicago Bears team disclosed which causes their players are supporting this year?
The Bears have chosen to let the players own their stories without media pressure. In past years, some players preferred privacy—especially around mental health or personal loss. The team respects that autonomy. Fans can still learn about causes by scanning QR codes on cleats during games or following players’ social media, where many share their journeys voluntarily.
How has My Cause My Cleats changed since its start?
It’s gone from a single pair of neon green cleats to a league-wide movement with over 1,800 participants. Early versions focused on awareness; now, they drive measurable impact—fundraising, volunteer mobilization, and policy change. Partnerships with organizations like Stand Together have turned individual acts into coordinated campaigns. The program now includes youth design contests and educational resources for schools, making it a multi-generational force for change.
Can fans buy replicas of the custom cleats?
Limited-edition replicas of select cleats are available for purchase on the NFL’s official website and team stores, with a portion of proceeds going to the associated charities. However, the most impactful way to support is through direct donations to the causes listed on each player’s profile during game week. The real power lies in community action—not just buying merchandise.