Basketball has always led the sport sneaker conversation -- from retro Air Jordans to today’s boundary-pushing signature shoes like the adidas AE1 and the Nike Ja 1. Meanwhile, on-field football footwear has historically been overlooked, outside of rare moments like Deion Sanders’ Nike Diamond Turf series and sneaker-turned-cleat flips like the adidas YEEZY 350 Cleats that the NFL banned. However, despite the limitations of playing a cleated sport, Odell Beckham Jr. has led the movement to take on-field style to the next level with eye-catching custom cleat designs.
From $200k USD diamond-covered warm-up cleats for the Super Bowl to a pair inspired by Virgil Abloh’s golden Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1s, the mastermind behind these wild creations for OBJ is none other than Dominic “The Surgeon” Ciambrone. The two met at a Drake-hosted party several years ago and have continued to work together since, collaborating weekly throughout NFL seasons to create a new pair of custom cleats for OBJ to wear in each game.
With the 2024-25 NFL season officially underway, we connected with both OBJ and Ciambrone to discuss the highlights of their partnership, the creative process that goes into each design and what we can expect from the two this year when OBJ returns to play later in the season.
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What’s it been like creating special cleats together over the years?
Odell Beckham Jr.: It’s been crazy, just being with someone who enjoys the cleats and everything as much as I do. Being able to create special pairs with Dom has been a blessing.
Dominic Ciambrone: I enjoy working with passionate people, especially in this case where it goes beyond the sport and reaches into design as well. It’s been a ride and I love working with Odell. Sure it can be stressful at times, but in a healthy way.
What is the process like in creating a design together?
OBJ: It’s easy. I can come up with any idea -- complete or not -- and be like, “yo, you do your thing,” and he's always going to execute it. Every single time he’s perfect, he doesn't miss.
DC: Last season, we’d go back and forth sending mood boards to each other before coming up with the actual design. Both of us come up with ideas and then I show Odell a sketch before making a sample and then the final design.
Do you create most of these in the offseason or is it an ongoing process?
DC: Every season’s different but the more we’ve done it, the more we try to get ahead. Now that he’s with Miami, we’ve already done some preparation and have a few pairs made. But with the nature of how things happen so rapidly within our space and the culture, we move quickly. At the same time, we have ideas that evolve or end up being cut. I just got a call from him today wanting to change a couple of pairs so it’s an ongoing process of adapting.
How has your partnership evolved over the years?
OBJ: I would say our partnership has evolved from more of a just “you make the shoe, I pay the money,” thing to a friendship, a brotherhood. Being able to talk to each other about even bigger ideas, just knowing that we're two special brains.
DC: I consider myself a pioneer in what I’ve been able to build and Odell has definitely been a pioneer in custom cleats. Before him, you’d see one-offs, but he really made style on the field important.
What’s your favorite pair that the two of you have made so far?
OBJ: Man, there's been so many. I would say, the Louis Vuitton, the iconic all-black Air Force 1s, even down to like the Iverson’s. There have just been so many, it's hard to answer.
DC: Creating a wedding shoe for Odell was a fun challenge. We put a dance sole on it so that he could dance and slide all night at Baker Mayfield’s wedding. That one was cool because it’s just different, right? After that, we eventually did all of Nelly’s Dancing with the Stars shoes.
"All three touchdowns that won the Rams the Super Bowl were scored in my cleats."
Are there any special stories that stand out to you from your partnership?
DC: One that really stands out to me was Super Bowl LVI. I made cleats for four players on the Los Angeles Rams, including Odell who scored a touchdown and Cooper Kupp who scored two touchdowns. All three touchdowns that won the Rams the Super Bowl were scored in my cleats.
What was it like seeing your work showcased on one of the biggest stages in the world?
DC: I’ve done everything from boxing to TV shows. With this, I felt like I won a Super Bowl, I was part of that. The team and I put so much into every project we do -- meeting deadlines and giving it our all -- so to see them actually win and to be there in person made us feel part of that.
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Basketball shoes have always commanded the most attention in the signature shoe game. How important has it been for you, Odell, to leave your own mark on the scene?
OBJ: For myself, there's just so many ideas and things that I want to do -- it is very important to me. People have been asking me for years to come up with a custom shoe and just leave my mark on the game.
How does maintaining the performance aspect play into your design process?
DC: Whether it’s a cleat, boxing boot or a basketball sneaker, it’s most important to me that it’s functional. I’m always creating in a way based on that. I’m not able to fully deconstruct these silhouettes because I want the performance integrity to remain intact so I add to it, balancing function and style.
Are there any other sports that you’d like to step into someday with your work?
DC: I haven’t done F1 yet, with a car there’s so many limitations but I’m working on that. Professional bull riding is next up and to do everything from a cowboy boot to chaps -- the full outfit, there’s so much there. I’ve done boxing and love that, it’s like a fashion show in the ring while you’re fighting and I love that you get to do the whole outfit, it’s not just cleats and gloves.
Is it exciting to work with a new theme/color palette now that Odell is with the Dolphins?
DC: It is -- the Dolphins were actually one of my favorite teams growing up. I didn’t really follow the sport but I like dolphins in general and their team colors are great.
What can we expect from your lineup of cleats for the 2024-25 season?
DC: Obviously we have new colors, but besides that, just newness -- trying new things, exploring some crazy stuff and working towards an original cleat for him.
OBJ: For this season, I feel like you can expect more of the same, if not better. Just trying to find things that go with the Dolphins’ uniforms while finding ways to stay fresh and have fun.
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