The NFL has always been a place where bodies break down and healing is stitched together with painkillers, ice baths, and grit. For decades, cannabis wasn’t even part of the conversation—it was a stigma, a suspension, a headline about “trouble.” Fast forward to today, and that same plant is now central to the business moves of former NFL players in cannabis currently, who understand its power firsthand.
These former NFL athletes aren’t chasing trends.
They’ve lived through concussions, chronic pain, career-ending injuries, and the mental strain of playing on the biggest stage.
Cannabis became more than relief—it became opportunity.
From lifestyle brands and infused blunts to cultivation facilities and research labs, these players are redefining what life after football looks like. Here’s the lineup of current and former NFL players in cannabis, who’ve stepped into the weed game and are changing the playbook off the field.
Nine Former NFL Players in Cannabis With Legal Businesses
Ricky Williams – Highsman
Ricky Williams’ name will forever be tied to cannabis. Once one of the league’s most punished stars for testing positive, he flipped that narrative into an empire of authenticity. His brand, Highsman, is more than flower jars—it’s a lifestyle built around greatness, wellness, and self-expression.
Williams speaks openly about how cannabis helped him heal and connect with himself at a time when the league’s structure was suffocating. Highsman leans into that ethos, offering curated product lines alongside apparel and accessories. What makes Ricky’s role unique is that he doesn’t shy away from the stigma—he owns it, and in doing so, transforms it into credibility.
Marshawn Lynch – Dodi Blunts
Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch carried defenders on his back for years, and now he’s carrying a cannabis brand with that same raw energy. His company, Dodi Blunts, is built in Oakland, a city as much a part of his identity as football. The products are unapologetically West Coast, from infused blunts to pre-rolls designed for heavy hitters.
What separates Dodi is the mission behind it. Lynch tied his business directly to social justice, donating proceeds to organizations like the Last Prisoner Project. It’s a reminder that for Lynch, cannabis isn’t just about sales—it’s about giving back and fighting for reform. His brand feels less like a cash-in and more like another extension of the community work he’s been known for his whole career.
Calvin Johnson & Rob Sims – Primitiv
Detroit Lions legends Calvin “Megatron” Johnson and Rob Sims teamed up after football to build Primitiv, one of Michigan’s most respected cannabis companies. They didn’t just slap their names on jars; they invested in cultivation, dispensaries, and research aimed at exploring cannabis for pain management and neurological health.
Primitiv operates with a clear mission: healing. Both Johnson and Sims endured brutal injuries in the NFL, and they wanted to build a company that proved cannabis could replace or reduce reliance on opioids. Their facilities in Michigan are vertically integrated, allowing them to control quality from seed to sale. They’re not just ex-athletes turned businessmen—they’re pioneers bringing legitimacy to cannabis, and the industry.
Jim McMahon, Kyle Turley & Eben Britton – Revenant
Three former NFL players—Super Bowl champ Jim McMahon, Kyle Turley, and Eben Britton—banded together to create Revenant, a cannabis brand fueled by pain, rebellion, and second chances. Each of these men experienced the dark side of pain management in the league, relying on opioids to keep playing. Cannabis gave them a safer path, and Revenant became their way of paying it forward.
The brand is built around authenticity. McMahon in particular has spoken about cannabis giving him clarity after years of migraines and memory issues tied to concussions. Revenant isn’t flashy—it’s raw, rugged, and built to represent the reality of football warriors who needed a better option.
Ryan Shazier – Steel City Greats
Ryan Shazier’s story is one of resilience. After a spinal injury ended his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, doctors doubted he’d ever walk again. Shazier proved them wrong, and cannabis became a key part of his recovery journey. His partnership with Organic Remedies led to the launch of Steel City Greats, a line of cannabis products built around pain relief and rehabilitation.
Steel City Greats reflects Shazier’s grit and his connection to Pittsburgh. It’s less about chasing a trend and more about sharing what worked for him with a community that saw his struggle firsthand. Shazier turned tragedy into purpose, building a cannabis business grounded in his story of comeback.
Bo Scaife – All Pro Farms
Former tight end Bo Scaife took a family-first approach when he founded All Pro Farms in Denver. His company leans into community values, creating cannabis products while also offering a blueprint for athletes transitioning out of the league. Scaife positioned All Pro Farms as a space for healing, entrepreneurship, and education.
What stands out is Scaife’s commitment to authenticity. He’s not chasing mass-market appeal—he’s building a business that reflects his roots and his belief in cannabis as medicine. In doing so, he’s showing how ex-players can lead not only in brand building but in community building.
Ron Bartell – KAHN Cannabis Co.
Ron Bartell, a former defensive back, took a different path than most. Instead of branding flower or focusing on product lines, he went straight into retail ownership with KAHN Cannabis Co. in Detroit. His dispensary, located in the Russell Industrial Center, makes him one of the rare ex-players to own licensed cannabis retail.
For Bartell, the move was about equity and representation. Cannabis retail is still dominated by non-equity owners, and Bartell stepping in as a Black entrepreneur in Detroit carried real weight. His shop isn’t just a store—it’s a statement that athletes can own more than just endorsements.
Jake Plummer – CBD Advocacy
Jake “The Snake” Plummer might not own a cannabis company, but his voice carries weight in the CBD world. After retiring, Plummer became an outspoken advocate for plant medicine and partnered with CW Botanicals as a spokesperson. His push has been focused on CBD as a safe, non-psychoactive option for pain relief and neurological recovery.
Plummer’s role bridges the gap between mainstream sports and cannabis advocacy. By lending his credibility to CBD, he helped push conversations forward in the NFL about loosening restrictions. He’s less about profit and more about changing minds, making his contribution vital to the bigger movement.
Drew Nowak – Freedom Green Farms
Drew Nowak, a former offensive lineman for the Jaguars, Seahawks, and Chiefs, took a completely different route: he built a grow. In Kalkaska, Michigan, Nowak founded Freedom Green Farms, a cultivation facility that combines athlete discipline with craft cannabis. His background in football translated into a business that treats every plant like a professional athlete—structured, trained, and optimized for peak performance.
Freedom Green runs about 1,600 square feet of canopy, producing up to 500 pounds per month. What sets Nowak apart is his commitment to running lean and smart, with sustainable water reclamation and tech-driven irrigation systems.
In our official Respect My Region Podcast Network interview with Drew, he shared that doesn’t just want volume; he wants quality that holds up in a competitive Michigan market. Freedom Green is proof that an NFL career can pivot into cultivation success.
Cannabis Is The New Playbook
For years, cannabis was a shadow in football—something whispered about, punished, or hidden. Now, it’s part of the game plan. These former NFL players turned personal pain, stigma, and even league punishment into business opportunities that are shaping the cannabis industry in real time.
Ricky Williams’ lifestyle brand, Marshawn Lynch’s community-driven blunts, Megatron and Rob Sims’ in Detroit, Drew Nowak’s cultivation farm in Kalkaska, the NFL’s connection to cannabis is no longer about suspensions. It’s about ownership, investment, and legacy.
As legalization spreads and stigma fades, expect more athletes to follow this path.
These former NFL players in cannabis know better than anyone what pain looks like—and what relief feels like. The future of cannabis has athletes all over it, and they’re not just players anymore.
They’re owners, leaders, and pioneers.
