Travis Kelce claimed most NFL players use cannabis and explained how they pass drug tests

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce made waves off the field back in 2023 when he spoke candidly about marijuana use in the NFL. In a Vanity Fair interview, the three-time Super Bowl champion estimated that between 50% and 80% of NFL players use cannabis and explained how many manage to pass league drug tests with ease.

Travis Kelce said cannabis use is widespread among NFL players

In the June 2023 interview, Kelce didn’t hold back when asked about marijuana use in the league.“I’d say about 50 to 80 percent of players [use marijuana],” Kelce said.

While that figure wasn’t backed by official data, it reflected what Kelce had observed within NFL circles. His comment added to the ongoing conversations about cannabis use in professional sports especially as policies around testing have shifted in recent years.

He explained how players pass drug tests under current NFL rules

Kelce also shared how players avoid testing positive for THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana. He noted that the NFL only conducts drug testing during a brief window in training camp.“If you just stop in the middle of July, you’re fine,” he said. “Guys stop a week before and they still pass because everybody’s working out in the heat.”His explanation lined up with the NFL’s updated drug policy under the 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The league eliminated year-round marijuana testing and increased the THC threshold, allowing players to manage usage around the testing window.

Kelce’s comments echoed past statements from other NFL players

Kelce wasn’t the first NFL player to speak publicly about high cannabis use. Former tight end Martellus Bennett once estimated that nearly 89% of players used marijuana, while Ricky Williams put the number at around 70%.Although the league doesn’t publish specific usage stats, Kelce’s estimate was consistent with what several former players have said about cannabis being common in locker rooms.Despite its use, marijuana remains technically banned in the NFL. However, punishments have shifted. Players who test positive no longer face suspensions instead, they may be fined or referred to treatment programs. In recent years, the league has even funded studies into the therapeutic use of cannabinoids for pain management and recovery.Travis Kelce’s remarks may not be new, but they continue to resonate as the NFL balances evolving social attitudes with its internal policies. With more players speaking out and the league showing signs of change, cannabis could become less controversial and possibly even accepted in the years ahead.Also read - Where is Deion Sanders? What we know about his current health and time away from Colorado