Football players might seem like superhumans on the field, but at the end of the day, they are human beings. With that in mind, they like to relax every once in a while. A lot of players choose to relieve tension by using marijuana, which has become legalized across most of America over the last few years.
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Sadly, a lot of players who were lovers of weed were doing so when it wasn't legal to do so in the league. Luckily, the NFL has eased its stance on the drug, and players can now fly high on and off the field.
10 Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams was the poster boy of weed use in the NFL in the 2000s. The former Texas Longhorn was drafted in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft and showed his skills on the field as a game-changing running back. Sadly, Williams lost portions of his career due to drug suspensions.
Those suspensions came as a result of Williams doing loads of cannabis, mostly for medicinal purposes. Despite spending a fair chunk of his career on the sidelines, he still rushed for over 10,000 yards in his career.
9 Johnny Manziel
While Ricky Williams was able to find a successful career despite his cannabis use, Johnny Manziel wasn't as lucky. He was drafted highly by the Cleveland Browns in 2014 with hopes that he could turn around the franchise. That didn't end up happening.
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Manziel led his addiction to marijuana, among other substances, to get ahold of him and led him to be out of the league within two seasons. Luckily, these days the former Heisman winner is sober and has become one of the faces of the Fan Controlled Football League.
8 Darren Waller
Darren Waller's career turnaround is one of the greatest stories in the modern NFL. The tight end was first drafted by the Baltimore Ravens but was suspended for 20 games between 2016 and 2017, leading him to be shipped out to Las Vegas.
Those suspensions were thanks to Waller using marijuana, among other drugs. Thankfully, he became sober and is currently one of the best tight ends in the league.
7 Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones is one of the stars of the Green Bay Packers. His alliance with Aaron Rodgers has led the team to be one of the most entertaining squads in the whole NFL. However, his career got off to a rocky start in 2018, as he was suspended.
His suspension was only for four games but still seems a bit harsh considering it was just marijuana. However, Jones returned from suspension and had an incredible season, which kickstarted his excellent career.
6 Martavis Bryant
Martavis Bryant's entire NFL career is a massive what-if. When he's been on the field, the wide receiver has been one of the most electric players in the league. However, he's spent most of his career off the field, due to marijuana.
Bryant has been suspended for multiple seasons now, mostly due to his positive tests for marijuana. While currently contracted to the Las Vegas Raiders, he hasn't suited up since 2018 due to an ongoing indefinite suspension.
5 Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, as his connection with Patrick Mahomes has led the two to great heights, and even a Super Bowl ring. Before all that happened though, the future All-Pro nearly had his college career ruined due to a positive marijuana test.
In 2010, Kelce was suspended for an entire season due to a positive test. Thankfully, the tight end has either been clean since then or has gotten his use under control to avoid being suspended and remain on the field.
4 Le'Veon Bell
Le'Veon Bell isn't in the NFL anymore and is currently seeking a career in the boxing ring. However, in his prime, the running back was electric and made the Pro Bowl several times. In his sophomore season in the league, he got into a bit of trouble.
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Bell was arrested for possession of marijuana and was suspended the following year for two games. Luckily, he didn't let this slow him down, as he continued to be one of the most dominant players in the NFL at the time.
3 LeGarrette Blount
LeGarrette Blount wasn't as dominant in the NFL as Le'Veon Bell was, but he still had an excellent career that saw him win multiple championships. The two running backs are actually friends to this day but did have a rocky bump.
That bump came when Blount, alongside Bell, was arrested for possession of marijuana in 2014. The latter got two games. Meanwhile, Blount received a one-game suspension. It's likely he wasn't too bothered by the incident by year's end, as he won a ring with the New England Patriots.
2 Randy Gregory
Randy Gregory's NFL legacy is a confusing one. When he's been on the field, he's shown flashes of being an excellent player. Sadly, he's spent a lot of time on the shelf, due to multiple, multiple positive drug tests for marijuana.
In 2020, Gregory was finally reinstated into the league after spending three of the last four seasons out with suspension. Now signed to the Denver Broncos, he's emerged as a leader on defense after signing a five-year contract with the team earlier this year.
1 Josh Gordon
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There's not a single player whose career has been more damaged by marijuana than Josh Gordon. In 2013, he emerged as the best wideout in the league, but also missed two games due to a positive drug test. Little did fans know, that was just the first suspension of many.
Gordon then spent most of the next eight years off the field due to suspension. In 2020, the NFL lifted its ban on marijuana, and the wide receiver hasn't been suspended since. Sadly, Gordon is much past his prime and is struggling to stay around in the league these days.
