Our Story
2015
The Injury
Ten years ago, our founders, collegiate football player Jack Rasmussen and his father Jeff, watched an NFL athlete go down with a non-contact ACL tear. An athlete in his prime, sidelined for an entire season. For what?
They dug into decades of research and found a consistent culprit: the interaction between the cleat and the playing surface. When a cleat locks the foot into the ground, rotational force is driven up the leg and into the knee, causing excessive strain and injury.
Athletes don't get to choose the surface they play on. That part of the equation is fixed. What they wear on their feet, however, is not. And that is where Caddix began.
They dug into decades of research and found a consistent culprit: the interaction between the cleat and the playing surface. When a cleat locks the foot into the ground, rotational force is driven up the leg and into the knee, causing excessive strain and injury.
Athletes don't get to choose the surface they play on. That part of the equation is fixed. What they wear on their feet, however, is not. And that is where Caddix began.
2020
Recruiting
To bring the idea to life, Jack and Jeff needed to draft some all-stars. That is when Peter Rueegger, Michael Steszyn, and their team at I-Generator came on board. With decades of experience designing, producing, and commercializing footwear for some of the biggest brands in the industry, they had seen it all.
When first approached with the concept of movable studs, the team was hesitant to take on something so complex and unconventional. But after reviewing the research themselves, they agreed it was worth a shot.
After countless design iterations, prototypes, tests, and the filing of 12 patents, SmartStuds™ were born. Built to flex and rotate just the right amount, SmartStuds™ release more quickly from the ground, reducing the torque that contributes ACL and other knee and ankle injuries.
When first approached with the concept of movable studs, the team was hesitant to take on something so complex and unconventional. But after reviewing the research themselves, they agreed it was worth a shot.
After countless design iterations, prototypes, tests, and the filing of 12 patents, SmartStuds™ were born. Built to flex and rotate just the right amount, SmartStuds™ release more quickly from the ground, reducing the torque that contributes ACL and other knee and ankle injuries.
2024
Getting on Offense
Even with the SmartStuds™ design and manufacturing figured out, there was still a lot to do.
After surveying 1,000 athletes about why they hated their cleats, the team at Caddix set out to build the most comfortable, highest-performing cleat around the SmartStuds™ technology. That meant a wider toe box, extra padding, and a more supportive plate. No pinch points, no break-in period, and no cutting corners.
That same standard applied to women’s cleats. Instead of shrinking men’s models, Caddix designed from the ground up for the female athlete: her body, her movement, her game.
With the first pairs produced, testing began. Cleats were worn by athletes at every level and validated in elite labs at the University of Oregon, UVA, and BYU. The team built what they learned into the next designs and iterations, ultimately producing a cleat that athletes love to put on.
After surveying 1,000 athletes about why they hated their cleats, the team at Caddix set out to build the most comfortable, highest-performing cleat around the SmartStuds™ technology. That meant a wider toe box, extra padding, and a more supportive plate. No pinch points, no break-in period, and no cutting corners.
That same standard applied to women’s cleats. Instead of shrinking men’s models, Caddix designed from the ground up for the female athlete: her body, her movement, her game.
With the first pairs produced, testing began. Cleats were worn by athletes at every level and validated in elite labs at the University of Oregon, UVA, and BYU. The team built what they learned into the next designs and iterations, ultimately producing a cleat that athletes love to put on.
2025
Touchdown
To get cleats into the hands of as many athletes as possible, the team needed reinforcements. That moment came when three-time Pro Bowler Todd Heap discovered the growing company and brought along a few friends who were also pretty familiar with cleats: Joe Flacco and Dennis Pitta.
The three Ravens legends immediately recognized the value of the technology. Each had experienced their share of injuries and setbacks, and they understood how meaningful an innovation like this could be. They chose to back the Baltimore-rooted brand and became lead investors in Caddix’s Seed funding round.
The three Ravens legends immediately recognized the value of the technology. Each had experienced their share of injuries and setbacks, and they understood how meaningful an innovation like this could be. They chose to back the Baltimore-rooted brand and became lead investors in Caddix’s Seed funding round.
Checking In
To complete the founding group, the team knew it was essential to include a leader from the world of women’s sports. Kayla Sharples, a two-time collegiate All-American defender and starting center back for the Kansas City Current, stepped in to fill that role. Having recovered from an ACL injury herself, Kayla deeply understood the company’s mission and the stakes for female athletes.
With Kayla on board, the investment round closed and Caddix was able to move forward with its first commercial production run of cleats with SmartStuds™.
With Kayla on board, the investment round closed and Caddix was able to move forward with its first commercial production run of cleats with SmartStuds™.
2025
Running up the Score
2025 was Caddix's breakout season.
Following a viral video and a waitlist that grew to several thousand athletes, the first public launch of the cleats sold through quickly and validated years of development. As cleats began reaching everyday athletes, the team was also focused on performance testing at the highest level of sport.
After rigorous evaluation, Caddix cleats were approved by the NFL for official game play. Joe Flacco had joined the brand as its first athlete partner in 2024, but by the 2025–26 season, more than 30 NFL athletes were choosing to wear Caddix cleats. Several purchased their cleats independently and brought them into competition on their own.
Following a viral video and a waitlist that grew to several thousand athletes, the first public launch of the cleats sold through quickly and validated years of development. As cleats began reaching everyday athletes, the team was also focused on performance testing at the highest level of sport.
After rigorous evaluation, Caddix cleats were approved by the NFL for official game play. Joe Flacco had joined the brand as its first athlete partner in 2024, but by the 2025–26 season, more than 30 NFL athletes were choosing to wear Caddix cleats. Several purchased their cleats independently and brought them into competition on their own.
Spreading the Field
Caddix also made a strong showing across the 2025 PLL and NCAA lacrosse seasons, with dozens of men’s and women’s athletes opting to wear the cleats for their performance, fit, and focus on injury risk reduction.
That momentum led to Caddix being named an official sponsor of Team USA for the 2025 Atlas Cup, where both the men’s and women’s national teams competed in Caddix cleats.
That momentum led to Caddix being named an official sponsor of Team USA for the 2025 Atlas Cup, where both the men’s and women’s national teams competed in Caddix cleats.
Next Play
At the team level, entire NCAA football and lacrosse programs made the decision to move away from legacy brands and outfit all of their athletes in Caddix cleats, prioritizing player safety and long-term performance.
In response to feedback from thousands of amateur and professional athletes alike, Caddix refined its original models, expanded colorways, and released its second generation of men’s and women’s cleats: the O.G. and the Blueprint.
In response to feedback from thousands of amateur and professional athletes alike, Caddix refined its original models, expanded colorways, and released its second generation of men’s and women’s cleats: the O.G. and the Blueprint.
2026
Building a Powerhouse
Looking ahead, Caddix is focused on one thing: redefining what athletes expect from their gear. Safety first. Performance always. Built for athletes, by athletes.
Men’s soccer, youth, and wide-fit cleats are coming soon. This is only the beginning...
Men’s soccer, youth, and wide-fit cleats are coming soon. This is only the beginning...
