The former NFL running back, Ricky Williams, is the subject of a new Sports Illustrated film centering on marijuana and life after the NFL.
Ricky Williams was one of the more controversial players in NFL history. He’s a former Heisman Trophy winner, an NFL rushing champion and while he played almost 150 games in the NFL, he is perhaps better known for failing multiple drug tests for marijuana.
In 1999, the New Orleans Saints and Mike Ditka traded away all of their draft picks to get Williams. He had modest success in New Orleans with a couple of 1,000 yard rushing seasons, but could never break into superstardom due to injuries. Williams was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2002, and it quickly became apparent Miami was a better fit for him. In his first season with the Dolphins, he was the leading rusher in the NFL with over 1,800 yards from scrimmage.
Miami was also where we became aware of Williams’ connection with marijuana. He retired early in 2004, and it was later released that he retired before he could be suspended for failing drug tests. Williams was a strange person, keeping his helmet on during interviews and doing other bizarre, eccentric things. He was later diagnosed with clinical depression and social anxiety disorder.
He later returned to the Dolphins after being ordered to pay back a ridiculous portion of his signing bonus, but he was never truly the same. His later years in Miami were plagued with injuries and further suspensions, and he later signed with the Baltimore Ravens, where he retired in 2012.
The documentary focuses on Ricky’s life after football. It takes a closer look at Ricky Williams, the person, and dives into his life without the sport he gave his body for.
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