My Cause My Cleats Campaign Featured by the New York Jets

The NFL’s annual "My Cause My Cleats" campaign—where players design custom cleats to raise awareness and funds for charitable causes close to their hearts—has become a highlight of the league’s season, and this year, the New York Jets have embraced the initiative with unmatched enthusiasm. My Cause My Cleats Campaign Featured by the New York Jets spotlights how Jets players, from star quarterbacks to rookies, have used the campaign to amplify issues ranging from childhood cancer research to mental health support, turning game-day footwear into powerful tools for change. For Jets fans and the broader New York community, the campaign isn’t just about football—it’s a chance to see players leverage their platform to make a tangible difference, bridging the gap between the team and the causes that matter most to its members.

My Cause My Cleats Campaign Featured by the New York Jets is headlined by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose custom cleats honor the "Make-A-Wish Foundation" and the "Rodgers Family Foundation," which supports at-risk youth in his home state of California and across New York. Rodgers’ cleats, designed in a vibrant blue and gold color scheme (mirroring the Jets’ uniforms), feature hand-drawn illustrations of children’s smiles, the Make-A-Wish logo, and the phrase "Chase Your Dreams" stitched along the side. In a pre-game press conference, Rodgers explained his choice: "Make-A-Wish has given so many kids hope during tough times, and my foundation works to give young people the resources they need to succeed. These cleats are a way to shine a light on both— and remind people that we all have a role to play in helping others." Rodgers also announced that he’ll donate $1,000 for every pass he completes during the Jets’ "My Cause My Cleats" game to both organizations, with the Jets’ front office matching his donation.

My Cause My Cleats Campaign Featured by the New York Jets extends beyond Rodgers to include standout defensive end Quinnen Williams, whose cleats focus on mental health awareness— a cause personal to him after he lost a close friend to suicide in 2022. Williams’ cleats are a striking black and white, with the logo of "NAMI New York City" (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) emblazoned on the toe box and the words "You Are Not Alone" printed in bold letters across the side. He also added a small handwritten note on the inside of the cleat: "For Mikey," a tribute to his late friend. Williams has been vocal about normalizing conversations around mental health, especially among athletes, and he hosted a pre-game workshop with NAMI New York City for Jets players and local high school students to discuss mental health resources. "Mental health is something we don’t talk about enough, especially in sports," Williams said. "These cleats are my way of saying it’s okay to ask for help—and that there are people who care. If even one person sees these and reaches out for support, it’s worth it."

My Cause My Cleats Campaign Featured by the New York Jets includes rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who chose to highlight "Food Bank for New York City," an organization that fights hunger in the five boroughs. Wilson’s cleats are designed to look like a New York City subway map, with stops labeled after food banks across the city and the Food Bank’s logo painted on the heel. The cleats also feature small pockets filled with mini granola bars— a nod to the food bank’s work providing emergency meals to families in need. Wilson, a native of Austin, Texas, said he was inspired to support the cause after volunteering at a Food Bank for New York City distribution center earlier this season: "I saw firsthand how many families in this city struggle to put food on the table— even here in one of the wealthiest places in the world. These cleats are a way to raise awareness and encourage fans to donate or volunteer. Every little bit helps." For the New York Jets, Wilson’s participation underscores the team’s commitment to supporting local causes, tying the campaign to the community it calls home.

My Cause My Cleats Campaign Featured by the New York Jets has also seen involvement from the team’s special teams unit, including punter Thomas Morstead, whose cleats support "Operation Homefront," an organization that provides financial assistance and housing to military families. Morstead’s cleats are camouflage-patterned, with the Operation Homefront logo and the American flag stitched on the side, and he added a personal touch: the name of his grandfather, a World War II veteran, printed on the tongue. Morstead, who has family members serving in the military, organized a pre-game meet-and-greet between Jets players and local military families, where attendees received autographed mini cleats and Operation Homefront gift cards. "Military families sacrifice so much for our country, and they often don’t get the recognition they deserve," Morstead said. "These cleats are a small way to honor them—and to show that the Jets stand with our troops." For the New York Jets, Morstead’s initiative has turned the campaign into a community event, bringing together players, fans, and military families in a shared mission of support.

My Cause My Cleats Campaign Featured by the New York Jets has culminated in a game-day celebration that extends beyond the field. The Jets’ home stadium, MetLife Stadium, hosted a "Cause Village" outside the gates before the game, where each player’s chosen charity set up booths to share information, collect donations, and interact with fans. Attendees could take photos with life-size replicas of the players’ cleats, participate in charity auctions (with items including autographed cleats and game tickets), and even design their own mini cleats to support a cause of their choice. The Jets also announced that a portion of ticket sales from the game would be donated to a collective fund supporting all the players’ chosen charities— a move that raised over $100,000. For the New York Jets and their fans, the campaign has become more than a one-day event; it’s a reflection of the team’s identity—one that values service, community, and using football as a force for good. As Rodgers put it after the game: "These cleats are just shoes, but the causes they represent are everything. This campaign reminds us that we’re more than athletes—we’re part of a community, and we have the power to make it better. That’s what being a Jet is all about."