David Montgomery hit with first $11,000 NFL fine in 7 years after Detroit Lions exit for Houston Texans (Image 1 via Instagram, Image 2 via Getty: David Montgomery)
The 29-year-old running back played for the Chicago Bears from 2019 to 2022 and for the Detroit Lions from 2023 to 2025. But unfortunately, the team lost by five points to the Bills, 36-31. The Herald Journal also shared a close-up view of the veteran running back’s custom cleats with the caption: “A detail view of custom Goyard ‘bag’-inspired cleats worn by Houston Texans running back David Montgomery [32] during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Houston, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.
David Montgomery, popularly nicknamed “Knuckles,” has played for two NFL teams before joining the Houston Texans. He received a five-figure punishment for a “uniform violation” after the game. Only logos or brand names from the league’s official partners can be displayed, according to NFL Football Operations’ Uniform Inspections.
This loss may have broken Montgomery’s heart, but to top it? The hefty fine was for an unauthorized logo on the cleats. Players may wear other brands as long as they remove or cover the name or logo.
However, in one game with his new team in 2026, he received his first $11,000 NFL fine.
For instance, NFL compliance vice president Akil Coad said, if a player chooses to wear specially molded shoes from a company that isn’t an official league partner, “who are we to tell them not to wear it? Now, after just one game with Houston, he has received his first NFL fine for an “unauthorized logo on cleats.” In his seven years in the NFL, he had never been fined. In fact, Montgomery was not the only one; four players were fined in Houston. Just don’t show the mark. Anyhow, Montgomery, who played for two teams before joining the Texans, had never been fined during his first seven NFL seasons.