NFL legend Champ Bailey talks about breaking the stigma with cannabis, using it while playing in the league
When NFL fans think about players and the use of cannabis, the former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams probably comes to mind, or even Super Bowl champion Chris Long.
Williams and Long have spoken extensively on the use of cannabis for a variety of reasons, including for pain relief versus other painkillers that have been pushed in the past.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey is also among a group of former NFL stars advocating the use of cannabis as a means of physical and mental recovery. Bailey is the community liaison for Trulieve, the world’s largest cannabis retailer.
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Champ Bailey has partnered with Trulieve. (Truth)
Former Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos prominent told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that it partnered with Trulieve to help the company secure a license in Georgia. Since its completion, Bailey has been tasked with educating the public about marijuana and breaking down stigmas about it.
Bailey played in the NFL from 1999 to 2013. He was a 12-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first team All-Pro selection and was named to the Hall of Fame All-2000s Team. He said he started using cannabis as an aid early in his career.
“But fortunately for me, I stayed away from it until I was mature enough to really participate in it. And it wasn’t until my second, third year in Washington that I was exposed to it. I was always exposed from a social point of view, but I never participated in it, and that’s just because of where I grew up, I never thought it was a benefit to my health,” he explained.
“But after seeing professionals, like me, doing it, I felt more inclined to give it a try. First of all, I didn’t want to go down the path of alcoholism or addiction to any drugs. So, I decided… Just crawl before I walk .It worked for me and calmed my body down in the NFLit is one of the most difficult sports to play. For me it was just, ‘How do I recover and stay at the top of my game?’ Well, this helped me with that.
Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) warms up before kickoff against the Cleveland Browns at Invesco Field in Denver, Colo., on September 20, 2009. (Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports)
“Fortunately for me, I found something that worked for me, and it’s now more, ‘How do I educate people about what he did for me so they can look at it as a positive benefit for them?’ But, of course, everyone has to go their own way. I recommend that guys always talk to their doctor about it.
“I’ve talked to my folks about it. So it’s one of those things. Let’s stop being embarrassed to talk about it and potentially go down that path. The only way you’re going to learn is to be open and honest about your use or interest in using. That has been my journey in a way and that journey continues.”
Bailey explained to Fox News Digital that his mission was to break the stigma around the use of the drug, which was illegal in most states before 2012. Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and California was the first state to legalize it. medical cannabis in 1996.
Bailey said he uses himself as an example.
“I’m a good example. I’m really just using my story to make people understand,” he told Fox News Digital. “But it also encourages others to tell their story. I’m not the only guy who played football, basketball or any professional sport and uses cannabis. A lot of guys do it more than you think. But for some reason, athletes are put on this pedestal, and we must all walk this fine line and appear pure.
“Well, cannabis is part of our regimen for a lot of us. So using those stories helps break down those stigmas. I mean the adults I grew up with. I couldn’t have those conversations with them 10 years ago because they all look at it like a drug for a pass, and I say, ‘Well, if that’s the case, then why didn’t I use that pass to do something else that was detrimental to me and a lot of my guys who did the same?’ Those are the ways you break down those stigmas. You have to use your stories.”
Dealing with teammates in an NFL locker room is a little different, but less difficult to demonstrate.
An NFL team is made up of players of different backgrounds, faiths, beliefs and viewpoints. If someone smoked marijuana, which was largely illegal and against NFL rules when Bailey played, the player would get the sideline.
Former pro football player Champ Bailey talks to a fan during a pregame event at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Sept. 10, 2023. (Brent Skeen/USA Today Sports)
“I’ve played a long time, so I’ve seen a wide range of different personalities and different beliefs and where people come from. There’s no more diverse environment than being in an NFL locker room. Guys would find out that some of us smoke, and they’d be shocked until they saw, ‘ Oh, this really works for them’ because they’re able to stay involved in what we’re doing ‘Oh, how do we behave while we’re at it?’ Okay. Now we’re at work, does it affect us. This actually helps me work and work at a high level,” he said.
“So that’s how we managed to break those in the locker room. But it takes strong leadership and really standing up for what you believe in because, again, it was illegal and against the rules. I would never have gone out of my way to encourage someone to do it (at the time). If you’re curious, talk to someone about it, and then go from there, and I’m just sharing my experiences.”
Getting around the rules was another matter.
Ricky Williams was one of the best running backs in the NFL at the peak of his career. He lost games and even the season because of failed marijuana tests.
Bailey suggested that NFL players who were using drugs at the time knew when the tests took place and stopped using marijuana before they were tested.
“They were very strict back then, but I wouldn’t say in a way that they were out to get you. Like, we knew when the tests were coming, so we always quit at a certain time, which… even at that time, you realized that hurt my recovery because we had to stop in the off season when they had those annual tests.
“It’s one of those times when you work harder than you do during the season because you’re training to get back in shape, and those are the times when you really want to,” he said. “I could just think of guys always talking about what do we have to stop when. Some guys would get tested earlier than others, so guys would go back to it and others were still waiting. That was the topic of conversation to figure out how managed it, but we all stuck together – those who used – and we made sure we all survived it.
Champ Bailey before the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Oct. 6, 2024. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
“Some passed, some passed. We all had experience with the league’s drug program. But, for better or worse, it was a waste of time. When you look back on it, I think the league realized they wasted a lot of resources on something that could actually benefit us, and things have changed over time and I’m proud to say that they’re giving me the courage to speak out more because they’re starting to turn the page on what it means to use cannabis.”
Bailey said he’s seen firsthand how marijuana helps.
He recalled his teammate who had a drinking problem when he talked him into marijuana.
“He knew I was consuming so he wanted to figure out what was better,” he said. “And when he started doing it, he was like, ‘Man, I’m missing out on everything.’ And it became his vice, so to speak, because he now realized that it actually contributed to this success.
“He ended up playing double-digit years in the league, a great career. So, no regrets. I was fortunate enough to be in a position to show him there was a better way. And there’s a lot of stories from guys about other interactions they’ve had, I just want to encourage guys to be open and discover more stories like that because it helps.”
Bailey said he will encourage more people to learn about the benefits of cannabis.
“It’s not what was taught 20-30 years ago,” he told Fox News Digital. “I think people are turning a corner. We just have to keep telling our stories. If you’re a user, talk about it and educate people about why you use it and how it benefits you. The more we can tell those stories, the better off we’ll be.
Washington Redskins running back Ladell Betts (46) runs past Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) in the third quarter at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Nov. 15, 2009. (Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports)
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“I think that’s why my vision aligns so well with Trulieve because they believe in the same thing. It’s not all about promoting their brand. It’s more, ‘How do you get people to understand what cannabis can do for you and, really, see that as a benefit for society and not as a negative thing?”
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