The conversation around cannabis in the NFL is not hiding in locker rooms anymore; it is out loud and backed by some of the league’s biggest names. What used to sound like whispers is now straight-up player testimony. And when a superstar tight end casually drops numbers that high, people stop scrolling and start paying attention.
As this is not just about usage, however, it is about how the system works. Testing windows, thresholds, and real player habits are all part of the story. And now, with more relaxed policies and honest admissions, the gap between league rules and player reality is getting exposed.
Travis Kelce Says Majority Of NFL Players Use Cannabis And Explains Testing Loophole
Travis Kelce
Feb 13, 2026; Pebble Beach, California, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce acknowledges the crowd on the 10th hole during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Speaking in a June 28, 2023, interview with Vanity Fair, Travis Kelce made a bold claim that continues to echo across the league in 2026. The Chiefs star estimated that anywhere between 50% to 80% of NFL players use cannabis, and more importantly, many still pass drug tests without issues.
His reasoning was the system itself.
“If you just stop in the middle of July, you’re fine. Guys stop a week before & they still pass because everybody working out in the heat.”
NEWS: #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce said that between 50-80% of players in the #NFL use cannabis.
Travis said many players evade pass drug tests:
“If you just stop in the middle of July, you’re fine. Guys stop a week before & they still pass because everybody working out in the heat” pic.twitter.com/LMeCjAvBRj
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) March 31, 2026
Kelce pointed directly at the NFL’s limited THC testing window, which typically happens once at the start of training camp. This creates a predictable cycle, players adjust usage, time their break, and avoid penalties.
And this is not coming out of nowhere. Kelce has history here, as he was suspended during his college days at the University of Cincinnati in 2010 for marijuana use. So when he talks about the system, it is based on experience, not theory.
What makes his claim hit harder now is the backup from other players. Former stars like Martellus Bennett and Ricky Williams have previously thrown out similar numbers, suggesting cannabis use has long been part of NFL culture.
More recently, Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson added real-life context. Speaking about his playing days, Johnson admitted he turned to cannabis late in his career just to manage pain and get through games. Not for fun but for survival.
That lines up with where the league is headed. As of the 2025 season, the NFL has significantly eased marijuana rules. The THC threshold for a positive test jumped to 350 ng/ml. Suspensions for cannabis are gone. Now it is mostly fines or mandatory evaluations. The testing, however, is still limited.
So yeah, Kelce’s comments were not just hot takes, they were a peek behind the curtain.The bigger picture is that the NFL is slowly catching up to reality. Players are being more open. Policies are getting looser. And the stigma around cannabis, especially for recovery, is fading fast.
The 36-year-old did not just drop a stat. He sparked a conversation that the league cannot ignore anymore.