Cleat Heat: The NFL’s Hottest Footwear This Season

While the NFL is a league of history steeped in tradition, a revolution of sorts is underway. In 2017, the league altered rules around footwear regulation and these changes significantly relaxed the requirements, allowing in-game cleats to be black, white, or team colours. They also allow players to wear unique customised cleats and this was a momentous departure from the rigidity of previous guidelines. As a result, players today have more freedom to exhibit their personality on the field than ever before and creativity is at an all-time high. From customs to crossovers, players are finding imaginative ways to maximise their options without being saddled with a fine for noncompliance. As the Super Bowl nears, let’s look back on some of the standout cleats from the 2024 NFL season.

You Can't Ban Greatness

Jalen Hurts signed an endorsement deal with Jordan Brand in August 2023 and routinely rocks unreleased retro Jordan PE cleats. This year, the duo pulled a classic Jordan and turned an equipment malfunction into a marketing moment. Hurts took the field in the Eagles’ Week 15 game against the Steelers wearing two different Air Jordan 11 cleats, one of which was not in ‘constitutional team colours’, therefore breaking the NFL’s uniform and equipment requirements and copping a $5,628 fine. In an unsurprising turn, Jordan Brand chimed in with: ‘We’re paying the fine. You can’t ban greatness.’ Hurts said later that he intended to wear ‘Columbia’ AJ11 cleats but the shipment didn’t arrive in time. Earlier that week he said had worn the mismatched cleats and liked how they looked enough to rock them in a game. The Jumpman was quick to back Hurts, once again proving clout is greater than cash.

Ja'Marr Chase Is 'Always Open'

Ja’Marr Chase was the undisputed best wide receiver in the NFL this season, leading the league in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He became just the sixth player in the Super Bowl era to win the receiver Triple Crown, and following his staggering 11-catch, 264-yard, 3-touchdown game against the Ravens in November, Nike sent Chase Bengals-inspired fur cleats. Constructed from a Nike Dunk base, the cleats feature a furry tiger-striped upper, with the heel and toe panels coming in orange and black while the midfoot and toe box are in white and black. On the sole, one reads ‘Always’ and the other ‘Open’. Due to league rules and concerns regarding the cleats’ ability to endure the demands of an NFL game, Chase was unable to wear them on the field. Regardless, they are still one of the most interesting footwear moments in the NFL this season.

Nike Vapor Edge DT ‘96 Takes Over

Before Deion Sanders was Coach Prime, he was Primetime, and he was one of the most electrifying athletes of his generation. He not only played offense and defense, but he did it in his signature shoe with Nike: the Air DT Max ‘96. Fast forward to today, Nike have modernised the model by retooling the upper and adding a cleated bottom to create the Vapor Edge DT ‘96, and it’s now covering the field just as much as Deion did. Kyler Murray rocked a black and yellow pair, Kristian Fulton broke out a Chargers yellow and blue pair, Josh Allen donned a white and blue pair, and CeeDee Lamb balled out in a white and silver colourway. While all these made an impression on the field, the pair that stood out the most was worn by Derrick Henry. In a game against the Eagles, he brought out a pair of custom metallic silver DT ’96s that shined as bright as his 5.9 yards per carry average this season. Talk about a takeover. So good they almost had me acting up and wearing them and the Prime shades out with the homies.

From the Hardwood to the Turf

Everyone wants to wear a hooper’s shoes, and even NFL players aren’t immune to the power of on-court drip. With the help of sneaker customisers, NFL players across the league have created cleat versions of their favourite basketball sneakers. A majority of the players donning basketball shoe cleat hybrids were receivers, running backs, and defensive backs. Considering these positions require lateral movements that are similar to basketball, the cleat options are not only stylish but offer the containment players need. There isn’t time to go through all the heat but here are some of the highlights: Saquon Barkley backwards hurdled a would-be tackler in Nike Lebron 4 cleats, his teammate DeVonta Smith played in a pair of Reebok Answer 4 cleats, Odell Beckham Jr broke out a pair of ‘South Beach’ Nike Lebron 8-inspired cleats, Patrick Surtain stunted in custom Nike Lebron 7 cleats, Jordan Addison wore a pair of adidas AE1 cleats, and his Vikings teammate Justin Jefferson brought out an Under Armour Fox 1 cleat. Representation across brands and eras was strong, just another example of the parity that exists in the sneaker industry.

Kobes, Kobes, Kobes

Mamba mentality is not exclusive to basketball players, it's something we all can adopt to be great in our lives. We recently observed the five-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing, and NFL players paid homage and continued to carry the Mamba mantle this season. The Kobe 6 ‘Grinch’ cleats took over the NFL, especially on Thanksgiving, as countless players adopted the Christmas colourway for the NFL’s biggest holiday. But it didn’t stop there: Rookie QB Jayden Daniels had a slew of Kobe cleats in the Washington Commanders colourway, Stefon Diggs wore a multitude of colourways including the 'Think Pink’ Kobe 6 and ‘X-Ray’ Kobe 5s, Bucky Irving of the Buccaneers rocked ‘P.J. Tucker’ Kobe 5 cleats, and Nelson Agholor wore ‘Undefeated’ Kobe 4 cleats. Lauded for their on-court performance, Kobes are often considered some of the best-performing basketball shoes of all time. Expansion into the gridiron market is a testament to the enduring craftsmanship of Kobe’s sneaker building process.

My Cause My Cleats

The NFL Foundation’s mission statement is ‘to improve the lives of those touched by the game of football’. Every year in honour of this mission, the league hosts ‘My Cause My Cleats’, which is where they relax the uniform and equipment rules to allow players to wear custom cleats that highlight and bring awareness to the causes they support off the field. The initiative has become an annual tradition that players embrace as they represent the charity or community organisations they believe in. This year, the celebration occurred during weeks 13 and 14 of the season and as usual, players delivered. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts both worked with children in hospitals to design their cleats, letting the kids paint their shoes. Colts receiver AD Mitchell has Type 1 diabetes and is passionate about raising awareness, so his cleats supported children with diabetes and research for a cure. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold reminded us to never ever give up, with his cleats focusing on foundations supporting kids fighting cancer. The NFL’s My Cause My Cleats tradition is a beautiful reminder that while there is more to life than games and sneakers, we are able to use the things we love to spur change and common good.