David Montgomery hit with first $11,000 NFL fine in 7 years after Detroit Lions exit for Houston Texans

David Montgomery, popularly nicknamed “Knuckles,” has played for two NFL teams before joining the Houston Texans. The 29-year-old running back played for the Chicago Bears from 2019 to 2022 and for the Detroit Lions from 2023 to 2025.In his seven years in the NFL, he had never been fined. However, in one game with his new team in 2026, he received his first $11,000 NFL fine. In fact, Montgomery was not the only one; four players were fined in Houston.David Montgomery among other Texans players who received finesDavid Montgomery made a massive debut for the Houston Texans against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.The popular running back recorded 60 rushing yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns, along with three receptions for 19 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. He finished with 79 total yards and three total touchdowns.But unfortunately, the team lost by five points to the Bills, 36-31. This loss may have broken Montgomery’s heart, but to top it? He received a five-figure punishment for a “uniform violation” after the game.NFL reporter Aaron Wilson reported via X that Montgomery was fined $11,491 for having an “unauthorized logo on cleats.”Heavy Sports’ Nathan Dougherty reported that Houston offensive tackle Trent Brown was also fined $5,971 for wearing socks that did not cover his lower leg.Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was fined $11,492 for wearing an unauthorized message on his eye black.Texans defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. was fined $8,923 for roughing the passer [Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen].Anyhow, what went so wrong with Montgomery?David Montgomery wore custom Goyard bag-inspired cleatsAccording to Blitzfits’ Instagram account, David Montgomery rocked his Houston Texans debut in custom Goyard “bag”-inspired cleats.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.”The hefty fine was for an unauthorized logo on the cleats. According to NFL Football Operations’ Uniform Inspections, only logos or brand names from the league’s official partners can be displayed. Players may wear other brands as long as they remove or cover the name or logo.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? Just don’t show the mark.”George Pickens was not fined for wearing Goyard custom cleatsTwo years ago, then-Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens wore custom Goyard and Chrome Hearts cleats reportedly designed by Jesse Woods. The designer reconstructed a real Goyard bag to create the hand-sewn, Chrome Hearts-inspired Nike Vapor cleats for Pickens in October 2024.Pickens was not publicly reported to have been fined for those cleats. Maybe did not have any unauthorized logo on display. However, he has received numerous NFL fines during his career, including seven fines during the 2024 season alone.Since joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, Pickens has been fined six times. So, 7 in 2024 and 6 in 2025, how many would he incur in 2026? Hypothetical question.Anyhow, Montgomery, who played for two teams before joining the Texans, had never been fined during his first seven NFL seasons. Now, after just one game with Houston, he has received his first NFL fine for an “unauthorized logo on cleats.”Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.