Charles Woodson abandons Brown’s ownership bid and dives into the liquor empire

Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson has withdrawn from a previously announced plan to buy a minority stake in the Cleveland Browns, citing conflicts between the NFL’s ownership rules and its growing wine and spirits business.

Woodson, a former All-Pro defensive back, told Front office sports that he ultimately chose not to proceed with acquiring a 0.1% ownership stake in the franchise because league policy would have forced him to separate his name from his wine and whiskey brands.

“I thought I was going to be a proud owner of the Browns, but that couldn’t happen because I couldn’t get my name off my product,” Woodson said. “It’s what made the product. It’s how I started, so I couldn’t do that.”

The deal appeared to be on track last spring, when the Browns announced in May that Woodson had received league approval as a minority investor and touted the perspective he would bring to the ownership group. Based on the team’s estimated valuation at the time — between $4 billion and $6.4 billion — the stake would have been worth about $4 to $6 million.

However, Front office sports reported that NFL rules prohibit team owners from advertising alcohol, a rule that directly conflicted with Woodson’s business ventures, including “Charles Woodson’s Intercept Wines” and “Woodson Whiskey.” Despite the restriction, Woodson’s wine has previously been served at Las Vegas Raiders games, underscoring the unusual tension between the league’s policies and its brand.

Ultimately, Woodson chose to retain full control of his companies rather than complete the Browns’ investment. The team confirmed the split in a short statement Front office sportssaying: “We respect Charles’ decision and wish him the best.”

Although Woodson never played for Cleveland during his NFL career, he is an Ohio native and has reportedly built a strong bond with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam in 2024. Without pursuing an ownership role, Woodson plans to continue his post-playing career as an NFL broadcaster while expanding his footprint in the spirits industry.

Woodson said he and his team are focused on refining Intercept Wines’ presentation, including a refreshed bottle design.

“For the wine, one of the most important changes we have made is the packaging and appearance of our bottles,” he explained. “We wanted to make it more uniform and appealing to the eye… a little bit more eye-catching.”

An NFL spokesperson previously clarified the policy Front office sportswhich states: “The policy of the league prohibits any owner, regardless of degree of ownership, from using his or her name, image and likeness for promotional purposes.”

For Woodson, a Heisman Trophy winner, Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer, the decision came down to protecting the identity he built outside of football, even if it meant giving up a chance to own the NFL.

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