Several 49ers players wearing unique cleats for NFL’s ‘My Cause, My Cleats’ promotion

The NFL has cracked down on any sort of originality from players, whether it be celebrations deemed too over the top, or wearing anything that is slightly different from league-mandated uniform policy. That makes this weekend a little more interesting than normal.

The league and its players have come up with something called “My Cause, My Cleats.” For week 13 (and only Week 13), players will be allowed to wear whatever cleats they want to help promote their personal cause(s). A lot of players do a lot of work off the field to help their community, or anybody that might be disadvantaged in one form or another. This allows them to promote those causes and potentially raise money for them. Among other things, the players will be able to auction off their cleats after the game and the money raised will go toward their cause(s).

Several 49ers players are going to be involved in this. Eli Harold will have a purple cleat to call out pancreatic cancer (I believe he had a family member pass from it), and a black and white “Black Lives Matter” cleat. Carlos Hyde will wear cleats in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley. Michael Wilhoite is wearing cleats to help raise money for a friend who is battling esophageal cancer. Vance McDonald will wear cleats for Convoy of Hope, which helps battle hunger around the world. Zane Beadles is supporting the Zane Beatles’ Parade Foundation, which is for children battling medical issues. And Torrey Smith is wearing cleats in support of his Torrey Smith Family Foundation.

Some of the players have shared their causes on social media. Here is some stuff from Torrey Smith and Eli Harold.