My Cause, My Cleats. If you’ve been paying any attention to the NFL or your favorite team this past week, it’s something you’ve already heard of across a wide range of platforms. But what exactly is My Cause, My Cleats, what causes are players supporting in 2021, and why is it so important?
What Is the Purpose of the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats Initiative?
In Week 13, more than 1,000 NFL players across the league will raise awareness for hundreds of charitable organizations on the field through the My Cause, My Cleats initiative. They’ll do this by wearing custom-painted cleats that have been created in partnership with artists and cleat manufacturing companies.Â
Since this initiative began in 2016, the campaign has provided an enormous platform to bring causes that fans may not necessarily know about front and center.
Whether it’s through teams telling the stories of the players on social media or commercial spots on television, there is one goal — to provide a deeper look at the personal meaning behind the causes these players are choosing to support through My Cause, My Cleats.Â
“My Cause, My Cleats allows players to shine a light on the causes they hold dear and the incredible work they do to help others year-round,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We are grateful and humbled by their commitment to make a difference, and this program allows them to share their passions with the world.”
Who Founded My Cause, My Cleats?
Back in 2016, the My Cause, My Cleats initiative was born. Yet, it was actually in 2014 when the idea came to light, and the concept started to be created. The players, wanting to have something to call their own, collaborated with NFL leadership for 18 months to create and launch the My Cause, My Cleats initiative. As a result, they now have the ability to express their commitment to the causes that are most important to them in front of a national audience on an annual basis.
“It was important to give players a platform for their stories to come out and be told. We also wanted to make sure there was a visual element to tell those stories,” explained Anna Isaacson — NFL senior vice president of social responsibility — to Bleacher Report in 2016.
What Causes Are Players Supporting This Year?
During the 2021 My Cause, My Cleats campaign, players will support various causes, including social justice, supporting youth, addressing mental health, raising awareness for disability research, empowering veterans, and more. The full breakdown is as follows:
- Cancer Research and Support (17%)
- Social Justice (16%)
- Disease Awareness and Prevention (12%)
- Youth (12%)
- Disability Research and Support (9%)
- Mental Health (6%)
- Military (5%)
The remaining 22% includes community outreach, food and water insecurity, healthcare support, first responder support, environmental conservation, disaster relief, and more. The full list of causes can be found on the NFL website.
How Can You Bid on NFL cleats?
After the action on the field has concluded in Week 13, hundreds of NFL players across the league will donate their cleats by auctioning them on NFL Auction. 100% of funds raised from these auctions will be donated to the charities the players selected. If you want a pair of cleats, you can bid on them today on the NFL Auction website.
