With Super Bowl LV set to take place this weekend, it’s going to be a somewhat surreal experience. Arguably the quietest Super Bowl in history, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in what’s going to be a clash of the titans. Although it may not be the Super Bowl many had in mind, it’s sure to be a big game no matter what. Of course, it wouldn’t be Super Bowl Sunday if there were a few custom football cleats thrown in for the big occasion.
Over the past 10 years, there’s been an enormous rise in custom NFL cleats. What started out as one-off pairs have spiralled into a full-time job for some cleat customizers. Big names like Odell Beckham Jr, Steffon Diggs and Antonio Brown have often stolen the spotlight on game days due to their footwear. Unsurprisingly, there’s been a mix of good and bad cleats along the way. As we edge ever closer to Super Bowl LV, we decided to take a look at some of the best custom cleats we’ve seen in the NFL.
For this piece, there will be a whole host of crazy cleat customs on display. You’ll see some of Odell Beckham Jr’s best cleats as well as some pretty special customs that the NFL has to offer. Without further delay, let’s take a closer look at some of the best custom NFL cleats!
Disclaimer: these are in no particular order!
Odell Beckham Jr “BAPE” Cleats
There are few NFL players who can come close to Odell Beckham Jr’s custom cleat game. Since exploding onto the NFL back in 2014 with the New York Giants, OBJ has worn a number of classic custom cleats. From festive to down right outrageous, OBJ’s custom cleats are always head turners. Back in 2016, Odell looked to honour America’s armed forces as well as having some drip on the field when he donned a pair of BAPE camouflage cleats.
Created by @k_o.brand_kickasso, the custom Nike cleats are certainly eye-catching. Using BAPE’s APE camo throughout, the pair features the instantly recognisable design all over the cleat. A distinctive red, white and blue Swoosh can be seen at the forefoot and comes complete with shark teeth for good measure. These were definitely some of Odell Beckham Jr’s best cleats and it’s easy to see why.
Victor Cruz “FDNY” Cleats
During his time at the New York Giants, Victor Cruz wore a number of custom cleats. He also famously spoke out against the National Football League for fining players who chose to wear custom NFL cleats. Whilst his career may have been cut short due to injury, Cruz managed to wear some pretty memorable cleats with the Giants.
Pictured above are a pair of custom Nike Vapor Carbon cleats honouring the Fire Department of New York. Donning a metallic red and contrasting silver upper, the shoe has hits of gold throughout to mimic the famous red fire trucks of New York. An airbrushed “NYFD” and NYFD emblem also feature on the cleats, bringing this pair to life.
Jamal Adams Air Jordan 11 PE
Jordan Brand athletes are always looked after when it comes to custom Air Jordan cleats. Over the years, we’ve seen just about every Air Jordan model turned into a functioning pair of cleats. With NFL players also loving their sneakers, the chance to wear an Air Jordan on the field is always taken. One of our favourite custom cleats comes from the New York Jets Safety, Jamal Adams.
Whilst this may just look like any other custom Air Jordan 11 cleat, it’s the subtlety that makes it great. A black leather and mesh upper is contrasted with a deep green patent leather around the shoe, giving it a sleek edge. A set of white laces match the white Jumpman on the ankle, with the Jets familiar green adorning the heel tab and sockliner.
Odell Beckham Jr. Sean Wotherspoon AM 1/97
Odell Beckham Jnr has arguably the best custom cleats in the NFL. Over the last seven years, we’ve seen some crazy OBJ cleats that are hard to compete with. As a member of Team Nike, OBJ also has a pretty crazy sneaker collection to match his cleats. Back in 2019, Odell decided to merge one of the hottest sneakers with his Nike Vapor Untouchable Pro 3 OBJ Uptempo Cleat.
Inspired by Sean Wotherspoon’s Nike Air Max 1/97 VF, the bright cleat was a big heat with sneakerheads. Taking the same colour scheme found on the Sean Wotherspoon Air Max, the custom cleat used all 11 shades from the sneaker as well as the large “OBJ” across the midsection. Complete with custom tabs on the front and back, these had to make the list.
Odell Beckham Jr “Joker” Cleats
It’s no real surprise that films serve as an inspiration to both sneaker brands and cleat customisers. We’ve seen the likes of Nike launch Freddy Krueger inspired shoes as well as custom NFL cleats referencing other movies. Interestingly, it seems as though Odell Beckham Jr is a fan of superheroes or rather villains. Back in 2019, OBJ decided to rock a pair of Joker inspired cleats.
Taking inspiration from the late great Heath Ledger’s performance of the Joker, OBJ’s cleats were scarily good. A white cleat featured two clown masks on the front, complete with a custom “OBJ” logo on the top of the ankle. Whilst he was only able to wear them for the first two quarters of the game, these have remained one of our favourite custom Nike cleats.
Keeln Cole Custom Air Jordan 11
Once a year NFL players are invited to wear custom cleats for a day. The “My Cleats, My Cause” initiative has been running for a number of years, with the game-worn pairs going up for auction. Players throughout the NFL choose inspiring charities and help to raise money through the cleats being sold after. Back in 2018, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver, Keelen Coles, donned a playful Air Jordan cleat for charity.
The Air Jordan 11 custom cleat featured multiple cartoon characters against a wall style graffiti backdrop. Ed, Edd and Eddy featured on the lateral, with Scrooge McDuck on the medial side. Custom rope laces, as well as the multicoloured upper, ensured that these were always going to be a big hit. It didn’t take long for this pair of Jordan cleats to steal the show.
Kyle Rudolph “The Undertaker” Cleats
There are few personalities in wrestling as instantly recognisable as The Undertaker. For over three decades, The Undertaker graced the stages of WWE and became a huge part of the franchise. Although he may have retired last year, The Undertaker’s legacy will certainly live on. Back in 2017, Kyle Rudolph decided to honour The Undertaker with a pair of custom Nike cleats.
Coming straight from the Mache Custom Kicks studio, these cleats were certainly memorable. A combination of silver and purple made up most of the custom cleats, with an airbrushed graphic of The Undertaker himself. Streaks of purple lightning add a nice touch, ensuring that this was one Nike cleat you wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
Odell Beckham Jr “The Grinch” Cleats
Dr Seuss’s The Grinch has always inspired athletes footwear. From Kobe Bryant 6s to Reebok Instapump Furys, the children’s book villain turned hero is a big part of the holiday season. One thing we do know is that NFL custom cleats love The Grinch. Back in 2019, Odell Beckham Jr decided to pull out another crazy Nike custom, this time referencing the green monster.
This is probably one of the craziest custom cleats to grace the NFL. The completely furry green upper wraps around the shoe and features red and white candy cane style detailing. A custom OBJ logo on the tongue is reminiscent of a bauble. Arguably our favourite custom cleat on this list, you certainly won’t forget these on the field.
DeAndre Hopkins adidas Call of Duty Cleats
adidas and Call of Duty formed one of the most surprising partnerships back in 2016. The two have since teamed up on a number of sneakers, exclusive pairs for Call of Duty players and worked with big names to bring the collaboration to life. In 2017, adidas sponsored NFL athletes were treated to a very slick Care Package from both brands.
To celebrate the launch of Call of Duty: World War II, a number of players were sent PE cleats. Although there were a few favourites, DeAndre Hopkins has to be our favourite. Taking inspiration from WW2 fighter jets, the custom army cleats use a shark inspired graphic to bring the pair to life. Airbrushed graphics, as well as a military-inspired paint job, make this one of the best custom adidas cleats we’ve seen.
Odell Beckham Jr “Pawsitively Fierce” Cleats
Finishing this list off we have, unsurprisingly, another pair of Odell Beckham Jr’s cleats. As you’ve probably seen, OBJ’s cleat game is second to none, with the wide receiver having a crazy imagination when it comes to his cleats. It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t showcase one of the wildest Nike cleats we saw during the 2019 season: the “Pawsitively Fierce” cleat.
Using various shades of faux fur, the furry custom cleat takes inspiration from our furry friends. A beige base is accented with a dark brown toe, with a set of fake ears o the collar adding a fun touch. Worn for the “My Cause My Cleats” campaign, the pair was inspired by OBJs four American Pitbull Terriers. Although they were only worn during the pregame, these have lasted far longer than their time on the field.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our round up of some of the best custom NFL cleats! With Super Bowl Sunday looming, we’re sure that we’ll see some more crazy custom cleats worn before the game. If you’re looking to watch the game this weekend then let us know who you think will win.
