Kareem Jackson owns many pairs of shoes, but on Sunday he will lace up a very special pair of white and gold custom cleats.
"It's amazing," he said, seeing his new shoes for the first time on Wednesday.
The seven-year cornerback is just one of a number of Texans who worked with an independent customizer, Darwin Itzep of Airbrush Brothers, to design cleats for the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats campaign.
Each pair is unique to the player and his cause. Jackson wanted to honor his mother, Rossalyn Jackson, by having her name inscribed on the side of his shoes. His mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor and has also served as the Texans Homefield Advantage Captain during Breast Cancer Awareness month at NRG Stadium.
"We've all been through different things in our lives," Jackson said. "This is just part of it and getting a chance to show the world what we represent. You know, everybody has their different cause, but for me, it's childhood cancer and women with breast cancer."
Players will also have the opportunity to raise funds for the cause of their choice by auctioning off their cleats at the NFL Auction, where 100% of funds raised will be donated. Like Jackson, more than 500 players across the league will showcase their causes. Jackson will represent the Kareem Jackson Foundation, which supports women with breast cancer and families that have children affected by cancer.
Players will get to wear their custom cleats on the football field during Sunday's game as a part of My Cause, My Cleats.
Through the #MyCauseMyCleats campaign, Texans players helped design cleats for Week 13 which support the causes and organizations they care about.
