NFL Fines Quarterback $10K for Wearing Beats By Dre Headphones

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Reporters asked if Beats might pay the fine on Kaepernick’s behalf, but the quarterback eschewed the question, as outside parties cannot pay league fines, according to NFL rules.

Watch Kaepernick star in a Beats commercial, soundtracked by Aloe Blacc’s “The Man”:

The NFL defended its stance in a recent statement:

“The NFL has longstanding policies that prohibit branded exposure on-field or during interviews unless authorized by the league. These policies date back to the early 1990s and continue today. They are the NFL’s policies -- not one of the league’s sponsors, Bose in this case. Bose is not involved in the enforcement of our policies. This is true for others on-field.”

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This sort of headphone exclusivity isn’t unique to the NFL. At the 2014 World Cup, all players were forbidden to wear Beats headphones due to an official licensing agreement between FIFA and Sony Corp.