#583 - Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson

Summary

Podcast Summary: This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von Episode #583 - Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson Release Date: May 20, 2025

In this engaging episode of This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, host Theo Von sits down with former NFL wide receiver Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson. The conversation spans Chad's illustrious football career, personal struggles, entrepreneurial ventures, and insights into contemporary issues within the NFL.

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1. Introduction and Career Highlights

[00:00 - 05:46]

Theo Von kicks off the episode by introducing Chad Johnson, highlighting his multifaceted career as a former NFL wide receiver, commentator, and podcast host. Chad's dynamic personality sets the tone for a candid and lively discussion.

Notable Quote:

• Theo Von [00:00]: "Today's guest is a former NFL wide receiver. He’s just an energy."

Chad reflects on the evolution of the game, emphasizing the shift towards a more pass-oriented offense and the increased focus on player safety following lawsuits related to head injuries.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [04:54]: "Players have gotten faster, stronger, bigger... player safety is cool, but injuries are still going to happen."

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2. Personal Struggles and Family Life

[05:46 - 21:09]

Chad delves into his personal life, sharing the profound impact of his mother's battle with alcoholism. He discusses his proactive stance against alcohol consumption, influenced by witnessing his mother's deterioration.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [15:00]: "I kissed the Cassette, but I never did it. I just managed to stay away from alcohol."

The conversation shifts to Chad's role as a father to eight children. He emphasizes the importance of deliberate parenting choices, such as dating athletic women to ensure a strong athletic foundation for his children.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [38:10]: "I hold my own combine. Oh, they think we're going on dates. Little do you know, I'm really taking notes."

Chad also touches upon the challenges and joys of raising a large family, highlighting activities like trips and sports involvement that foster strong family bonds.

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3. Entrepreneurial Ventures and Post-NFL Career

[21:09 - 35:12]

Transitioning from his NFL career, Chad discusses his entrepreneurial spirit, particularly his cigar brand, "85 Cigars." He shares his passion for cigars, underscoring his commitment to quality and the craftsmanship involved.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [13:09]: "I've been a cigar enthusiast. Whether they're mild, strong, peppery, smooth—it doesn't matter."

Chad also explores his foray into media and commentary, highlighting his role on NFL Films and collaborations with personalities like Stephen A. He underscores the importance of staying connected to the sport he loves while leveraging his insights into football strategy and player performance.

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4. Reflections on the NFL and Contemporary Issues

[35:12 - 61:00]

Chad provides a nuanced perspective on the NFL's current landscape, discussing the impact of rule changes aimed at player safety and how these have altered the dynamics of the game. He praises emerging defensive talents while lamenting the loss of the "gladiator" spirit he admired in earlier eras.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [08:46]: "Offensive players are using the rules to their advantage and it puts the defensive players in a pickle."

The conversation also ventures into the topic of LGBTQ representation in the NFL. Chad speculates on the presence of gay players, advocating for acceptance and expressing support for diversity within the league.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [44:10]: "Absolutely. They probably don't want it to make every... make it a big deal."

Chad emphasizes the importance of authenticity and respect, asserting that players should live their truth without fear of judgment.

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5. Anecdotes and Personal Stories

[61:00 - 84:33]

Chad shares entertaining anecdotes from his playing days, including his strategic antics to unsettle opposing defenses by sending playful gifts like Pepto-Bismol packs. These stories highlight his competitive nature and flair for showmanship.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [58:16]: "I sent gifts to the Falcons before... just fun stuff."

He reminisces about his time as a gigolo before his NFL fame, providing a glimpse into his early entrepreneurial endeavors and the diverse experiences that shaped his resilient persona.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [98:32]: "Yeah, I like that. I like the outfits."

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6. Transition to Retirement and Future Aspirations

[84:33 - 109:16]

As the conversation nears its end, Chad reflects on his transition from professional football to his current roles in media and business. He discusses the importance of mentorship and leadership within the sports community, advocating for veteran players to guide younger talents.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [55:35]: "A good locker room presence can carry you an extra two or three years in the NFL."

Chad also touches upon his daughter's athletic pursuits and the balance he maintains between his professional and personal life, underscoring the fulfillment he finds in family activities and supporting his children's endeavors.

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Conclusion

Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's candid conversation with Theo Von offers a comprehensive look into his journey from the NFL to his entrepreneurial ventures and personal life. His insights into the evolving nature of football, coupled with his reflections on family and authenticity, provide listeners with an inspiring narrative of resilience and adaptability.

Final Notable Quote:

• Chad Johnson [109:07]: "I will always remain authentically myself at all times."

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This episode not only highlights Chad's vibrant personality and diverse experiences but also sheds light on significant issues within professional sports, making it a must-listen for fans and enthusiasts alike.

Transcript

[Theo Von]

And we've got some new tour dates to tell you about. I'll be in Cedar Rapids, St. Paul, Fargo, rapid City, Philadelphia, Rochester, Garbage Plate, Detroit, Winnipeg, and Calgary in the Canada. All of those shows coming up in June, July, and August. Theovon.com T O U R It's the Return of the Rat Tour. It's almost over, and thank you guys so much for your support. Today's guest is a former NFL wide receiver. He's a commentator, he's a podcast host, and many other things. He has a show called Nightcap with Shannon Sharp. He had a huge career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He's. He's just. He's an energy. And I'm grateful to spend time today with Mr. Chad Ocho. Cinco Johnson.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And I will find a song.

[Theo Von]

Thanks for coming, Chad. You feel okay with just getting into it? You want to. Anything you want to talk about or don't want to talk about, like having.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Sex, get into it.

[Theo Von]

Damn.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I don't have rules, okay? I'm just as crazy as you are.

[Theo Von]

Damn.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

If you ask, you ready for an answer?

[Theo Von]

O. Well, okay, Chad.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

God damn, I look good.

[Theo Von]

You coming in a little dark, huh? How dark are do y' all do it? Is there like a I can smoke?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Cuz you put that right there.

[Theo Von]

Just put it there. It's fine with me. Yeah, I don't think we got it. I mean, will that thing go off, you think?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, it's not enough smoke.

[Theo Von]

Who, like, did you do F1 last weekend?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I had to go shake some hands, smiles, get a few deals done. I'm not. I'm not a. Not much of a F1 guy. NASCAR. Now we talking. Yeah, NASCAR is where it's at, especially for first dates.

[Theo Von]

Go to nascar.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

What? Some of this woman that's never been to NASCAR and you sit in the stands. Oh, awesome.

[Theo Von]

I got to do something like that. I used to take girls when I lived in Tucson. I take them over to the dog track over there.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Greyhounds? Yeah, they had a greyhound track still in. In.

[Theo Von]

It had a ground track. This is probably about 16 years ago.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

We got the greyhound track here, too. Horse track. I love that, man.

[Theo Von]

You got. You got any nice animals at the house?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I travel too much for pets and I can't deal with death. I don't handle death well.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, I wish sometimes. I love to see animals compete against each other. Yeah, I love that, man. They had baby racing the other day at a college game, crawling.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, that's funny. I saw. I saw some. Sometimes when they do it At NBA games and the baby's crawling.

[Theo Von]

I bet on them. You ever had that gambler? Oh, buff, dude, I'll. I put 1100 on a four month old baby. Yeah, a fast little Filipino four month old.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Look, look, this is dope.

[Theo Von]

I put half a rack on that. Oh, that's.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That is funny.

[Theo Von]

Dang, look at that one. Baby stalled out, got dementia. Are they cheating there?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Stop reaching across the line.

[Theo Von]

That's what, I don't like that. That's the rules of change. And look at this. Look. Damn. He turning around. Wait.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Wrong way, buddy.

[Theo Von]

He want, he uhuh. He want a new contract. He just hit the portal. He's heading back to his stepdad.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, they going the wrong way then.

[Theo Von]

Now they got. Oh, that one can't handle it. Yeah, now they got that little Filipino bad boy. Up top.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

There it is.

[Theo Von]

That's Puka Nakua right there. Up top, baby about to hit the finish line.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's funny.

[Theo Von]

Do you feel like it was probably. When you look at the, at the players today, do you feel like it was easier for them to be able to pick up stats?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I mean, the game has changed. The game has evolved a lot. Obviously from a receiver standpoint, they. They throw the ball much more. Much more. The era I played in, it was. It was more about running the ball to open up the pass. So they definitely. I mean, it's different. Average. They have an added game too, so it was much more difficult. And the game is a little bit more lenient in favor of the offensive side because defensive defenders really can't do anything. You can't hit. Okay.

[Theo Von]

It's.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They throw flags for everything you get. Fine for everything. Yeah, I think, you know, my era, in the era before me, football in general back then was the true definition of football. I mean, it's a gladiator sport.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Why do you think they softened up the rules like that? Why do you think they made it like that?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Honestly, the truth, I forgot what era it was when they sued the NFL for all the injuries, all the trauma that players have suffered in the past.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And they won the lawsuit. It might have been a billion or something. Something like that. And they had no choice but to.

[Theo Von]

Oh yeah. The National Football League was sued for failing to protect players from head injuries, which can lead to CTE starting in 2011. In 2012, a class action lawsuit was filed consolidating over 4,500 former player cases. So they settled that, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, they won.

[Theo Von]

Damn.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Those players won. And that's why the rules are what they are today. I know they always preach about player safety, but that's. I mean, player safety is cool. It's understandable. But players have gotten faster, stronger, bigger. The dimensions of the field haven't changed at all. So therefore injuries are still going to happen. Concussions are still going to happen. There's no way to prevent that. Yeah, it's impossible.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. What? Yeah, because that's part of it. You can't just stop.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's part of, you know what you signed up for. Yeah, you know what you signed up when, when you, when you make it, you know, as a 1% in NFL, it's a gladiator sport. It's barbaric.

[Theo Von]

It kind of is a little bit of a bummer because you don't really get as meant. There's not a lot enough defensive cornerbacks and safeties. They don't really get enough love then because you don't even get to know them as much because they can't play as much defense. Does that make sense?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

A little bit. But. But some of them, some of them have made a name for themselves that are really good. Really, really good. The Jalen Ramsey's and McDuffie and let me see, I'm thinking run some of these DBs off sauce gardener Derek Stingley. You know, some, some dudes are really good regardless of the game changing the way it has. Pat certain. Lizarius Snead, really good. Jalen Johnson, good young dude. Christian Gonzalez with the Patriots, man. Hey, he's an animal.

[Theo Von]

Wow.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He's animal. And there's. There's another young fella, Latino right there. Yeah, there's another young fella. And damn it, Horn from the Panthers is really good as well.

[Theo Von]

Joe Horn, son.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, Joe Horn. Hey, he is nice. So despite the rules being what they are, they gotten so good technically, you know, trying to adapt to the rules that some, some of them stand out, but they're just.

[Theo Von]

It feels like you do. There can't be really be that beast out there that's just like clapping dudes down. You can't. You just like.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And those. The first thing that comes to mind is the safety or maybe linebacker from the Texans who got suspended. Think got suspended maybe once or twice because he plays like he's back in the old days.

[Theo Von]

Oh yeah, who is it?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Al Shazir. Shazir something, something like that.

[Theo Von]

Al Jazeera. Not him. Who?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I don't know. I don't know. Say his name the right way. Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Oh, hell yeah. He's an op, bro. He's working for.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He plays like Middle East.

[Theo Von]

He's over here doing some.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He plays football the way football should be played.

[Theo Von]

Hell yeah. Hell yeah. I gotta get his jersey, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, he's good. He's really good.

[Theo Von]

But yeah, you don't hear. There's not like that Ronnie Lot guy, you know what I'm saying? They just don't have those bangers or like. Who was the guy that played for Denver that was just a banger back there?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Steve Atwater. Yeah, yeah, Steve Atwater. Bob Sanders. Oh, he's old school. Yeah, he's old school and obviously right there. Players should have. Should have slid early. Slide early.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. What do you think about the slide, man? Because it. Honestly, as a fan, it doesn't even make it fun. If the guy's running, you know he's gonna slide. It just seems, I don't know, you would almost rather don't do this play or somebody get hit.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, not. Not really. It just slide early. You know, the guys are coming. They're much faster than you, especially quarterbacks. They're much faster than you. And Mahomes is one who's really tricky is he'll purposely slide late to get a penalty. Sometimes he'll pretend like he's going down or going to step out of bounds and. And stay in just a little bit, just a tad second longer. Just flag thrown. So.

[Theo Von]

God, lingering.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Offensive players are using the rules to their advantage and it puts. It puts the defensive players in a pickle.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. But it builds it up for. People want stats, people want to see the scoring.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Theo Von]

You know, so I guess it's just a sign of the times. Do you think it can ever swing back the other way or do you think that the legal issues and stuff are going to keep it?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely not. It will never swing back the other way because the NFL, they have to protect themselves. They got to protect the shield and. And protect the players, you know, on the back end.

[Theo Von]

Was it tough on your team when you play with the Bengals? Like, I know you play with a couple of different teams, but was it. Or with any team, is it fun for a receiver if they're running, bro? Is it even fun? Like you have to pretend that they're gonna pass?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, because I was. I like to call myself an allaround player outside of just catching the balls because there were certain things I already knew I would have two people on me every time. So that opened up the running game. So I had no problem. So if you open up the running game and the running game is doing well, Then they have to take a safety and get him up off of me and bring him down in the box. Now I get to. Now I get to cook. So I look at it that way.

[Theo Von]

Do you think a lot of players look at it that way?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Like, probably not. I knew I would get mine no matter what because I was the number one receiver. So at some point the ball was going to get to me. But then you have some games you go into and a team will say, you know what? Today 85 is not beating us. You're going to have to be somebody else in those games. You know, you do the best you can to keep your composure. And it gets frustrating at times out there just getting cardio in. Yeah, but you're going to have games like that.

[Theo Von]

So if somebody. If they're. If you know your team's running right. But you still have to pretend like they're going to pass. Right? Because.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Always. Always. And I. I'm really rarely ever was lackadaisical because I understood what I mean to us offensively, even when I wouldn't get the ball right.

[Theo Von]

Like, even if you're saying if they think they're going to have to keep an eye and if his eyes over here, it's not over here in the box.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, most definitely. Most definitely.

[Theo Von]

So I run them off and was that still fun, too? Even on those plays? Is it still fun?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I made it fun. I had to because I used that time to talk.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Can you curse?

[Theo Von]

Huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Okay, I'm sorry. Okay, cool.

[Theo Von]

You can talk, dude.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Who's the darkest dude you ever seen in the NFL? Man, like the darkest skinned guy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Darkest.

[Theo Von]

Because sometimes you see a guy like that. Like, I've been even my black friends. And we'll see like a dude that is. And they're like, that's a good question. My friend. My black friend. Like, damn, you see that black. I'm like, yeah, dude. But for you to say that, that's a, you know, that's a remarkable.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I'm trying to think. I can't. I can't think. I'm dark my damn self.

[Theo Von]

Well, you come. Yeah, I definitely think you come in a. People would consider you dark.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, Very, very. I'm trying. I'm trying to get darker, you know?

[Theo Von]

Are you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I used to tan.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Go to the tanning bed.

[Theo Von]

Did you?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

But naked. Just to even everything out.

[Theo Von]

I like it because are there parts say if you're. And I've never seen a. I never seen a full. I don't think naked Darker male. Right, right. Is there part to your body that are not as dark?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You know, sometimes I would like the chest and the neck area to match, and sometimes it doesn't. I don't like that because it's always covered. I want my legs, chest and everything. One, like chocolate, dark, go diva, Willy Wonka type complexion.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Like them. What's. Them little things that they give you sometimes at a hotel somewhere nice.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

The little chocolates?

[Theo Von]

Yeah, the ones that are wrapped up, sometimes they're red, some of their blues, and I'm just gold.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They're a little minty. I know you talk about.

[Theo Von]

What are they called? Lador. Oh, no. Oh, them. Yeah, them Lindor truffles, baby. Damn.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I like. I like those.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, bro. That's what I'm saying, dude. If you had your. Bro, if they had Chad Johnson Lindor truffle.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's a good one, bro.

[Theo Von]

That's an elite candy. Look at them. They wrapped up real nice. God, they wearing a damn. Just a beautiful panty. They got them wrapped in.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

$70.

[Theo Von]

God, that's expensive. Look at that, them Lindor changemakers.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

320 for one or the package, bro.

[Theo Von]

That's all I'm saying, bro. If they had Chad Johnson Chuckles, that'd be dope. It's a good idea.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I gotta look into that.

[Theo Von]

Have you done some business ventures? Like, what's something you ever got in? Because people get into something wild, you know, different people get into different. Stu Joe Horn have a hot sauce or a barbecue sauce. Remember, he went big on barbecue?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

I'm trying to think of guys from your time that had something while. I mean, I was a New Orleans guy, so I know Deuce McCallister had like a car dealership.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, for me it would be cigars.

[Theo Von]

Oh, really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

85 cigars? Yeah, that's.

[Theo Von]

You have a brand of them?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Oh, bet. I don't even know, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

80. 85. A number five. And boom, there they go.

[Theo Von]

God. Boy, them will give you. Give you a long cte, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Listen, that's. That's all I do. I've never. I've never had alcohol.

[Theo Von]

Really.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Never. So anytime I have a cigar, I always pair with my coffee. I've just finished my coffee. Yeah, I never had alcohol. No drugs. Never done anything but cigars. I'm a smoker since 1991. Wow. Since 91, I smoked two or three a day. And this is actually, even when I was playing. When I was playing, I would smoke whether we lost, whether we won.

[Theo Von]

Because. What is it you. What is just like yeah. What is it? Because that's a pretty kind of a. That's a real relationship with something.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, most definitely. It's all about the taste. It's all about the taste. And I. I'm a fan of really all cigars. Whether. Whether they're mild, strong, peppery, smooth. It doesn't matter. I mean, I'm a cigar enthusiast.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah. God. I tried to. I remember I used to work for this rich guy, and I would. And sometimes he would call me in there, he would be drunk and he. The other ladies at work. I was at an insurance company, they had gone home, and I was just the guy who was doing the filings and stuff and mailing things. And he'd be drunk in there. He'd call me to listen to him because he just wanted to just.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Just.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, just be rich and have somebody hear him be rich.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

So he would sit in there with a big cigar and he tried to get me to hit them a couple times, man. God, I couldn't. I just couldn't handle some of it. I mean, my hands swell up. One of them made my hands real straight. I think he was smoking some that they had, you know, they'd put some other in at the house or whatever because I couldn't even bend my hands for almost 40 minutes after smoking them.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Did you inhale?

[Theo Von]

Huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Did you inhale?

[Theo Von]

Yeah, I tried my best.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You're not supposed to inhale. You're supposed to taste it.

[Theo Von]

Oh, I like to hit that cigar.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It's an acquired taste.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. And he didn't teach me like that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He just, like, gave it to you.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah, he was complaining something, you know, the oil or whatever. And I was. And I did. I had. If I had to finish filing that afternoon, bro. In there like this? Yeah, that's like a platypus in there trying to figure out, man. But, yeah, I didn't know that. So you never had alcohol, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I never. I never will, man.

[Theo Von]

But did something turn you off to it when you were young?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I think it might have been my mom.

[Theo Von]

She drank?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, she. Oh, did she really? Man, she drank like a fish, you know, morning, morning, noon, night, you know, and seeing her become somebody I didn't even recognize, I think that's why I steered away from it because it always starts young. Anytime you have a habit that you stay away from, you have the discipline to do it. Most people say, oh, you so Discipline. No. Say, no, I'm not. I saw something in my mom when I was younger that let me know, you Know what? I'm not going down that path. I just never did it.

[Theo Von]

And did she. Is she still alive?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, she passed away from alcohol poisoning.

[Theo Von]

From cirrhosis of the liver.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yep. 20, 21. I never forget. And I knew that. I got that phone call. I got that phone call, and I knew something was wrong because it was family members calling.

[Theo Von]

Scary, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Never call, especially like that. Back to back from different family members. And I kind of already knew what it was because my brother had already called. So I already know nothing's wrong with him.

[Theo Von]

Right.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And I had a feeling what it was. And say, come down to the house. Your mom is. She's passed out. They couldn't even open the door. She was right there. Right there by the door. And obviously the autopsy came back and she passed away. Drink herself to death. That's my baby, though.

[Theo Von]

Thanks for sharing that. Yeah, man. I, you know, I've been in recovery and struggling over the years from drinking, and a lot of my friends, you know, it's part of. It's part of a lot of people's universe these days.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yes, sir.

[Theo Von]

What and how do you try? And I even have a family member. We try. I've done intervention and stuff. Did you guys ever try to do something like that? Is that hard as a son? Because I bet it's kind of tough with a parent because they're kind of. You still have to look up to them.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It was very difficult. And it was so difficult that I couldn't do it. And she wouldn't listen to me. You know, you can lead a horse. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. So she has to want to get the help herself.

[Theo Von]

And they can't drink alcohol.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yep. They listen. And so I even went as far as we were on marriage boot camp, but it was Family Edition. I think it. We tv. I forgot what it was.

[Theo Von]

It was a show that you did.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. So her and I, it's all about a mother and son or a mother and. And whatever family member it was. You're trying to amend the relationship and whatever issues you have. So I took her on there and more. She cut a fool. She cut a fool.

[Theo Von]

Oh, she didn't want to be.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

She cut a fool. Obviously had alcohol out. They had all this stuff. And it was her and I, you know, two weeks. Two weeks straight. We went through different activities. They had two therapists, two doctors there and there. There it is right there. And man.

[Theo Von]

Oh, she's beautiful. What's her name?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Paula. Paula Johnson. We call It Hurricane Paula category, category 85.

[Theo Von]

Huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

She gets. When she gets upset, it's a hurricane. It's a hurricane. And listen, she showed out in that show, man. That's my baby. She showed out, but she just wouldn't. She left the show early. She didn't even finish the show. She left early. Cuss the producers out, Cussed the rest of the cast mates out.

[Theo Von]

She didn't want it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Nah, she, she, she. She didn't want to get the help I wanted, man. But that's my baby. There. There was a funeral scene we did. There was a funeral scene we did.

[Theo Von]

Uhhuh.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Where she was like, close the casket. So it was me in a casket. And how would she feel if I was to pass away?

[Theo Von]

Oh.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, man, she showed out. Oh, she showed out. Close the casses. Let his baby mamas roll him in. Oh, it. It was hilarious.

[Theo Von]

Oh, she made it funny.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, man, it was. No, she was dead serious, though.

[Theo Von]

Oh.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, she was pissed.

[Theo Von]

She.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

She was pissed. So that, that, that was the introduction.

[Theo Von]

Let baby mama.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Let him roll that. Close that. And let his baby mamas roll his ass up out of here. Yeah. Yeah. And so people were.

[Theo Von]

That's hilarious.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. The world was introduced to hurricane.

[Theo Von]

Everything we do.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

An emotional response.

[Theo Von]

Do you want us that look alone. She didn't take any, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, she didn't play.

[Theo Von]

Doesn't work. But did you get that? I meant that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Watch this. Listen, I haven't been a part of his life and he hasn't been a part of mine. He got his kids and baby mamas.

[Theo Von]

Line them up.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Let him roll his ass after.

[Theo Von]

You said you wanted to close the casket earlier.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, you close it.

[Theo Von]

I don't work for the funeral home. Let one of.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Let one of the children come close.

[Theo Von]

Sit down, Paula. Sit down, Paula. Never. You do not. You could never tell Paula to sit down.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

She's a legend. Oh, she's a legend. Especially in our area. We have a thing. You're not really a friend of mine. If you haven't been cursed out by my mom, that means you ain't been around long enough. And that. That's how she was. And we. We loved her just like that. And. And I never got a chance to say goodbye. Oh, I never got a chance to say I love you. But I had the messages saved before she passed away. And it's her cursing me out.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I mean, let me have it. Letting it rip, like paragraph, paragraph. And. And I wouldn't want it any other way. Yeah, I wouldn't want any other way.

[Theo Von]

Because that's who she was.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's who she was.

[Theo Von]

That's fair. You have a family member. They'll send me met. Like some of the text they sending caps, emojis. Things don't even make any sense. They'll be the. I can't even read it. Yeah, I already know what it is. Right. But at the same time, that's who they are, you know?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

You have to love people where they're at. It's tough, though. That's a tough time. I think so many people deal with that. How do I love a family member that's struggling, you know, because you can even give them things. I mean, even you're able to provide then.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. And the funny thing about it is, is I had to stop the bleeding as well, because an individual like that, they will use oh, I'm your mama as a reason for you to keep giving, giving, giving, giving. And a taker doesn't know when to stop. It doesn't know when to stop. And there was no appreciation behind it because no matter how much I did, it was always an issue. So even at that point with mom, I even had to deal with her from. From arm's length, at a distance, you know, and it was cool. We. My grandma raised me, so her and I weren't really eye to eye most of the time, but, man, when the times were good, oh, man.

[Theo Von]

Oh, I bet.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

But when it was bad. I know. Oh, we talk about entertainment. Like her. See, her being on that show was able to introduce the world to who Hurricane Paula was. And she was TV gold. She was TV gold.

[Theo Von]

Oh, dude. That little bit right there, it almost reminds me of that. That woman, New York, when she was at her best. Remember?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yes.

[Theo Von]

When she was at her best. Like, her best moments remind me of something just like that. Oh, that's interesting. And at least you have that. At least you have that. Also a moment of you guys's time together, you know, to look at. I bet she was super proud of you, though. Was she able to express that to you?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, absolutely. She was proud of all the things I was able to accomplish, you know, obviously during. During my days and NFL, all the stuff that I did off the field. But she was so unpredictable. The. I couldn't take her to important stuff.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Because, you know, red carpet stuff like that. I couldn't have her in those rooms because I don't know what Paula was going to show up. I didn't know which mom was going to show up, and I didn't want her to to embarrass me in those moments. Moments that would be. We're. We're supposed to be celebrating whatever achieving it may be. But listen, if the wrong person is there and she sees she might snap.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It doesn't care about their surroundings or the environment, so I. I had to be cautious.

[Theo Von]

She'll get a pass interview. She'll get a defensive pass interference call quick.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And don't care. And don't care. Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Wow. Dude, that's so interesting because that's also. It has to be wild because that's where you obviously got a lot of your banter and ability to accept things even if they're in a dangerous space.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

To keep. Because one thing that's interesting, I think about you, Chad, and this is kind of. It may be judgment, but it's just me. Kind of, from an outside perspective, is even if things are chaotic and crazy for other people, you're still able to have this sense of humor that things aren't even. Not that it doesn't matter.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

But that it's not affecting you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I think because of my upbringing and me being able to operate well and in a chaotic environment, and I'm very comfortable being uncomfortable. Very. It doesn't matter what's going. It doesn't matter what's going on. I love chaos. And I, I. I operate well in chaos. Very well. It doesn't matter what it is.

[Theo Von]

Now, will you also create the chaos just to then slide in and operate in it?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yes.

[Theo Von]

Yes.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Think about during my time playing.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I was very chaotic. I purposely tried to piss the NFL off. Purposely. Because I understood the game is an entertainment sport.

[Theo Von]

Ah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

So therefore, I'm going to bring just that, the entertainment value part to it. They didn't see it that way, but all of a sudden, everything I was vilified for now is a green light.

[Theo Von]

Right.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Everybody's celebrating. Everybody's having fun.

[Theo Von]

Good point.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I understood what I was doing.

[Theo Von]

And look where you're at now. You're in a space where you're still entertaining. Right.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Still going.

[Theo Von]

Still going in a little bit of a way. You're kind of before your. You're kind of before your time with that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

And it takes. It takes other. It's even like with podcasting. At first, they thought podcasting was crazy. These people aren't doing. They're out here doing. We got networks, we got all of this. And then, you know as well as anybody, you. I mean, half your times when you're doing shows with Shannon, you're just sitting there on Your phone or computer. He's in a studio sometimes. But sometimes you're showing up from wherever.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

From your home. You just tapped in off a laptop. And that's a. That's, you know.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I started the podcasting early, too, I think in 2010.

[Theo Von]

Let's go.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Carol Owens and I had a show called the Teoto show. And. Oh, yeah, that was the first form of podcasting, in a sense. I think that. That there ever was.

[Theo Von]

Dude, I remember. So I lived in LA for maybe 11 years. I remember I went one time, I was meeting some girl. I think I met her off the Internet or something. But I was gonna take her. She's like, will you take me shopping? And I was like, shopping? I know. And I was like, yeah, this is.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Before or after sex?

[Theo Von]

This was before sexes, before a handshake. And so. But I knew I wasn't going to take her anywhere nice. You know, I was. But I still wanted to. I think I was just susceptible.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

So I'm like, where can I take this girl that's not expensive but American Apparel? That has H M. Yeah, right, right. So that's kind of the district I took her in.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

Anyway, she's looking at and everything. And I saw Tara Lawrence and Macaulay Culkin having lunch together.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's dope.

[Theo Von]

God. And it was beautiful. It was almost like seeing a Loch Ness monsters or sass. You know what I'm saying? You would ever see that, you know, so something like, just sometimes you see certain groups of people in the wild. It's just beautiful. But what made T was. Was T. Because you guys were also teammates.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, he was in Cincinnati.

[Theo Von]

Was he as entertaining? What was.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely. You know, I got to think we were friends before that. I remember I stood on the table for tea and I knew we had opportunity to get him. So I talked to Marvin Lewis. I talked to Mike Brown. I said, we got to get tea in here. We got to get tea in here. As much as I've accomplished here at the Cincinnati Bengal, can we please get one of the greatest players to ever play top three all time, no matter what? I have no problem taking a backseat and being. Here's Robin.

[Theo Von]

Really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, absolutely. With nothing but respect. So I couldn't wait. And T. And having T in that locker room and watching him practice and having a great understanding on his approach to the game of football, man, that was a treat. And I think it's a treat. I've never had a chance to actually sit there and tell him how much I admired him in general as not only a player but his approach to the game of football and I got a better understanding on why. He's one of the greatest.

[Theo Von]

Really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah man.

[Theo Von]

It was a joy was his like what made it so special his approach. I know I mean there's rumors that he sleeps in like a barbaric chamber or something. Yeah all of that. He's sleeping in like a hollowed out missile or whatever.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I'm the complete opposite you know to was very massages, hyperbaric chamber, ice tub, cold tub, eat right salad. All this stuff I didn't do and I'm McDonald's cigars. Complete opposites. Totally different sides of the spectrum. So it. It's just. Just being around a man it was such a joy and I was a sponge and he doesn't even know it. I took as much as I could from him in that moment, you know, in that in that year I had with him and still to this day. Very good friend of mine, man. Very good friend.

[Theo Von]

Well I never got to. I've never gotten to meet him. A lot of people are getting their tax refunds right about now. And it's always smart to invest a piece of your refund. But this month it's twice as smart because Acorns is giving you the chance to get your tax refund matched and invested in you. Acorns. It's a financial wellness app that makes it easy to start saving and investing for your future. I just got my nieces and nephews set up with some Acorns accounts. I love the way they do investing. You don't need to be rich. Acorns lets you get started with the spare money you've got right now. Even if all you've got is spare change, you don't need to be an expert. Acorns recommends a diversified portfolio that can help you weather all of the markets ups and downs. And don't forget, sign up for Acorns now and you could be one of 100 people to get your tax refund matched. Just download the Acorns app and sign up with code THEO20. That's right. T H E O Number 2 Number 0 THEO20 for your chance to get your refund matched and invested in you. No purchase necessary. Open to USDC legal residence. You are 18plus.com contest-and-promotions, a client endorsement compensation provided Senator positively promoting Acorns. Tier 4 compensation provided. Investing involves risk. Acorns Advisors LLC and SEC registered investment advisor to important disclosures. Acorns.com starting your own business can be intimidating. It can be surprising also, you know, you get a business going and suddenly you realize all the other hats you have to wear. You have to be your own accountant, you have to be your own organizer, your own booker, your own scheduler, your own supplier. There's just so many different things that come along with doing it yourself. It was hard for me in the early days of this podcast, and it would have been easier if I'd had a partner like Shopify. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started. Get started with your own design studio. With hundreds of ready to use templates, Shopify helps you build a beautiful online store to match your brand's style. Turn your big business idea into With Shopify on your side, sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com t h e o go to shopify.com theo that's shopify.com t h e o Anywhere worth going is worth going in good boots. Find your perfect pair with To Cova's. I found mine. God, I love my little set of giddy uppers. To COVAs. You ever wondered if you can pull off boots with your personal style? Well, you owe it to your feet to pull on a pair of Tokovas. Find comfort in the traditions of the West. Every one of Tokova's boots are handcrafted with over 200 meticulous steps for broken in comfort right out of the box. I love my To Covas. I just love them. I got those work towed and it's just. I feel locked in. Dang it. I feel like I could just change the tire on a dang Conestoga wagon. Plus with To Cova's best in the west, guarantee you get free returns and exchanges for 30 days. Right now, get 10% off at tacovs.com theo when you sign up for email and texts, that's 10% off at t e c o v a s.com/t h e o to kovas.com/theo c site for details. To Covas. Point your toes West. Yeah, some things are interesting like if you game, like if you, if you get like some popularity in your life or something happens, you get to meet different people. Well, it had to be crazy in your world because you kind of go from a college, right? And I know you went to smc. I went to smc.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You did?

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I was, I was asking.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, Man. Yeah, it was. The SMC was wild, bro.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Because it. There was nowhere to park. So, dude, it was like I would drive to school and if I didn't park, I wasn't learning. That was it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I took the bus.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Bus down Pico. I never forget at that time I had a young lady I was dating. She lived in the jungles across from Dorsey High School, right off Coliseum in the third building. I'll never forget. And I would take the bus. I would take the bus to school.

[Theo Von]

What was it like playing? Because that was a community college. But it was probably a really good program they had. It was the best that they could have.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It was good. Especially back then. Obviously Steve Smith senior. Yeah, he's on the team with me and I. I needed that. I need to get out of the environment out here in Miami to. To.

[Theo Von]

Because this is where you started out at. Yeah, with ab. Was Ab running when you were running?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, he was a little younger, but.

[Theo Von]

Did you hear about him or. No.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I watched him in high school when he was that New Orleans. Yeah, I've been watching AB for years.

[Theo Von]

And his dad was also from Miami. Troy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I'm not sure.

[Theo Von]

Was it Troy Holly Touchdown Brown. Who is that right there? That's Eddie Brown. Touchdown Eddie Brown. That's AB's daddy. His father.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's AB's dad.

[Theo Von]

That's his dad.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Serious?

[Theo Von]

Yeah. His father had the most touchdowns. He still holds a record, I think, for arena football. Most touchdowns in arena football.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Wait, that's his dad for real? I didn't know that. But as dope.

[Theo Von]

But I don't know how many siblings and stuff he has. How about. Do you. He gets put on the CT bus a lot. You know, he gets put on that baby. Do you think that's true or do you think it's.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Nah, I. I think he knows what he's doing. And he played into the CTE thing real well. You know his cte? His cte. S, S, P. Hilarious, dude. Hey, it's. It's hilarious. It's hilarious.

[Theo Von]

And he's kind of bridging a little bit. He does a little bit of racial bridging kind of.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, a little bit.

[Theo Von]

Because he'll call people name. You know, he'll call some guy crack or some guy the N word. He'll mix it. He'll call it age at the N word. He don't get. Hey, there's no.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He's. He's in a space right now where he knows what he's doing and he knows how to get that traction. He knows how to get that reaction.

[Theo Von]

You know, cheer him on. Because I do find that it's interesting where he's at, and I hope he can figure out the best way to manage it. I mean, look at this.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Hey, listen, he. He's. He's on the right. He's on a historic run right now. He's on a historic run in his own lane doing what he does. I love him to death. I love him to death. You know, obviously, a friend of mine before football.

[Theo Von]

Oh, really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Before football. Yeah. This goes way back, and that's someone I will always support, whether. Whether it's up close, whether it's from afar, you know, his decisions that he makes. You know, that's him. He's a grown man. But there's one thing about him I'm. Always love him.

[Theo Von]

He. No, that's nice to hear, man. Yeah, There's. I will say this. There's something extremely lovable about him. Right?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

It's like whatever he does orever, he's like anything he's saying, like, him as a person, he has such a. Like, a warm energy and smile. And now I haven't seen, like, a darker side of him. There may be. I don't know, but he's got such a smile that it's like, you want to get on. You want to hear what's gonna get. What's gonna happen with them.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Very interesting. Very, very unpredictable.

[Theo Von]

Unpredictable.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's what makes. That's what makes it so awesome, because you don't know what the. Excuse me. You don't know. You can curse. You don't know what the. Is gonna happen next.

[Theo Von]

Because I don't even think he know. He might know, but you're like, I'm gonna ride with him.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Even if everything AB does right now is. Is strategic. It's strategic. It's planned out, and he's two steps ahead of everybody else.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, I love hearing that. Yeah. Belichick really opened the portal with the Dating a young lady, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I mean, yeah, I had an opportunity to work with Bill this past season on NFL Films. So Bill was there with me and Ryan Clark and Chris Long and.

[Theo Von]

Do you get to meet his girlfriend, then?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I don't. I. No, No, I didn't. I didn't meet her. I didn't meet it. I think I might. Might have saw her once. I mean, people are over.

[Theo Von]

They're almost overshadowing his acumen and what he's done with her. You know, the media will do that a lot of times.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, Bill, Bill is Bill. Bill's going to be able to do what he wants to do. His resume speaks for itself and I'm excited for Bill, obviously, and what he going to do. Turning that UNC program around and getting another opportunity to coach the NFL.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Now what he decides to do with his personal life, that's one thing I stay away from. You know, I always stay away from stuff like that.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Did. Yeah. Because I'm trying to think because My dad was 70 when I was born. My mom was 32. Right. So, okay, they had. What is Bill's difference in it?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

74 and 23. Right.

[Theo Von]

So, yeah, I mean, you know, I didn't love having an old. If they had children. I don't know if I loved having an old dad because, you know, it's like a limited time offer, you know, every time you see him, that the, the clock is, you know, oh, the clock is ticking. Heavy is gonna make a draft pick, you know, so you start to see that 49 year age gap. But who knows if they're in love?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Listen, love who loves you. Love who loves you. That's, that's, that's all I can say.

[Theo Von]

Do you feel like it's risky? Like with athletes and stuff? There's a lot of, like, you know, there's a lot of potential for. To get in a sticky situations because a lot of athletes, they're, you know, they're. People know that they have money.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

They're. They're in great shape. You know, it seems to be like it happens more often than not these days.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Most definitely. Most definitely. You. I mean, you got, you got to be cautious. You got to be weary and always understand that, you know, sometimes most of those that you'll deal with, most of those who will deal with you is because of what you can do and not who you are.

[Theo Von]

How do you try and figure that out? Like, you don't think you can't figure.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It out because you always have to lead, lean into it with that same thought process.

[Theo Von]

Like, what are you saying?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You have to understand, especially when you have money and you have things going on for yourself, would you be able to get the same girl that's with you now if you didn't have it nine times? Nine times out of ten, absolutely not. Not. That's just, that's reality. I don't know that go. That goes for every, that goes for any and everybody. You know, that's just life. That's just the way it is. If you could, if you lost the ability to provide the woman you're with right now. Would she still be there?

[Theo Von]

And that's probably for any man, really, almost in any space, period. If you lost the ability to provide. Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Period. Or do the things or. Or give her the lifestyle that you've been able to. What was she doing before you came along?

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And look what you've done with that certain individual that you're with. You know, and depending on how much money you have, your leash is very long. And when things hit the roof, most of the time when she leaves you, she has to take that money with her to continue that lifestyle.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah. That's a tough spot then, because your money is going to get kind of divided up.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Do you have. You have a lot. You have a decent amount of children?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, a lot. 85.

[Theo Von]

You have 85. Is that your goal?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

But then also the people I've had kids with, we were all on one accord. I only dated women that were athletic. I'm not having kids just. Just to have kids.

[Theo Von]

Oh, so do you have some strategy?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, there was strategy behind mine. I don't care about you being a bad. I don't care about you being on IG with your ass out. I don't. I mean, that's fine. Whatever you need to do to. To feel better about yourself. That I'm fine with that. But I needed and only dated women that were athletic, so my kids had a head start on that foundation of athletic ability. That's it. So I look at women, I look at ankles.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Because I look at some track. Do you see some of them track women?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, my. My daughter run track at University of Kentucky now.

[Theo Von]

Oh, really? Yeah, I live in Nashville, man. That's not far.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

For real?

[Theo Von]

Yeah. If you go up to a gay. If you go to see a meet, I'll come up there and meet up with you guys in Lexington. Yeah, dude, that'd be awesome.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Because I bet they also run against lsu. I want to tell us you if they run against LSU or Vanderbilt. Dude, that'd be sick, bro. I'll come up there, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. And I. I don't have. I never have really have this. There she is. Yeah, this one.

[Theo Von]

She was young and she's good, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah. She can go. She can go. She can't beat me, but she can go.

[Theo Von]

Do you think she'll be able to beat you at some point?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely not. Because before my. Any of my. Listen, listen. Before my kids beat me in anything, I would trip her. I'm Just being honest. I would trip her before she beat me. Yes. Not happening. Not happening.

[Theo Von]

Did. Dang. So you. So was her mother athletic?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Dude, you see those track ladies?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

All of them. Did you cheer? Did you play volleyball? Did you run track volleyball? Yeah, I mean, just.

[Theo Von]

I just need to cheer sometimes. You get these little nuggets that. You get them little McNuggets out there.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

But I know I can tail because when I go on dates, I like to go places where you have to. You have to show me athletic ability. Go to Dave and buses. Can you shoot now? If you don't have no form and can't shoot, I can't do nothing with. You can go bowling. Go roller skating, you know.

[Theo Von]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

So I. I hold my own. My own roller skate, baby.

[Theo Von]

That's ice skating for black people right there.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's what that is, dude, the combine. I hold my own combine. Oh, they think we're going on dates. Little do you know, I'm really. I'm taking notes. Okay. You can bowl. Okay. You don't really have any coordination, but I can work on that.

[Theo Von]

Come on, Chad.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Go to the gym. Oh, a gym date. Oh, please.

[Theo Von]

Take them to the gym on a second date.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, yeah. First date. Dave and Busters, you know, check out coordination. Let me see how your lateral movement is. Yeah, that's. Hey, Theo, you laughing. That is important.

[Theo Von]

No, it looks.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Sometimes. Listen, you. Some. Some of these guys.

[Theo Von]

It's a good point.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. They date women. Oh, she's so fine. She. She's on IG live. She fine as hell. Blah, blah. You have a child. Your child got two left feet. And you wonder why your child get picked last in P.E.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Your child out there, he's swimming a little circle.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Oh, they come home sad. Nobody picked me.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Nah, that.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, that dog. If you're. If you have. If. Yeah. If she can't play kickball, I'm out. Oh, dude, that's because that's a good test of a lot of different sports at once. A lot run and kick it at the same time.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You know how hard that is to do? Very coordination to be able to run forward and kick in rhythm.

[Theo Von]

Y. That's the Mozart of athletics to me, boy. Kickball. Show you a lot.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yep, absolutely.

[Theo Von]

That's what I'm saying. This. But there's a lot of traps. A lot of people don't think like that because you have to think, too. Like, do you. So do you think. Do you think a lot of men. Because I feel Like, a lot of. Let me get this. Right. So in the NFL, they got a lot of guys, it seems like, who want to have a lot of children. Right. Do you think that that's true?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I think at times, like, is.

[Theo Von]

That a stereotype with black, you get.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Caught up in the.

[Theo Von]

Do they have a lot of guys who want to have a lot of children?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, there are a lot of white guys, too. They have a lot of kids as well.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

But I think we just get caught up in the moment most of the time. And I think our counterparts, on the other hand, they have a little bit more. A little bit more discipline in that area. But I think they. They. They're not as bad as us. But also there's.

[Theo Von]

What do you mean, our counterparts?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I mean white. White guys.

[Theo Von]

Okay, so white guys versus black guys.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

I'm not even looking at it, like, in a. I guess I am looking at, obviously, in culture.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

I'm not really looking at it in race, but I'm looking at it in culture. Right. So I'm thinking in black culture, is it more of a thing to have.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It happens. It happens a lot because we get caught up in the moment.

[Theo Von]

Okay.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

We get caught up in a moment. Now, I. I'm one who's one of those.

[Theo Von]

Y' all like to spike the ball.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. But for me, everything I've done was strategic and not done on purpose. There was a method to my madness. There's a method. Nobody's. I'm not having kids. Nobody's running to child support and old chat. No, no. Because we all had one end goal. You understood what it was. And I also had kids with people that I've known before I even made it. So there were no ulterior motives like most have when you meet them once you've already had money.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. So, yeah, give me some thought at an equinox or something.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And you have a child, and the first thing, you wonder why things don't work out.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Not things. Most time don't.

[Theo Von]

But no, it's like. Yeah, you don't know who you're. You don't. You're putting yourself at risk.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

So you're saying instead of risk, straight, you have more strategy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, most definitely. Most definitely. Most definitely.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Because I just wonder, sometimes I wonder, in black culture, do they view. Do black men view the world differently? Like, is there a. Do they view it more as like a. I'm a king and this is my castle?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I don't. I don't.

[Theo Von]

You know, that's Just how I wonder sometimes. Or like. Yeah. Like, is there strategy sometimes?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, I gave you mine, Right. And I've always lived by that, no matter who it was. I don't care how fine you are. I'm not here to raise models. I want athletes. So therefore I'm going to procreate with those who give me just that you might listen. You'll have. Have fun and go on dates and yeah, for those who. Who are not that, but when it comes to having kids. Oh. Oh, honey. Okay. How fine you are.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You got a kid, your kid walking at three weeks running. Yeah. First birthday, you get him a hurdle. Do you think? What else am I thinking about? Do you think. Do you think there's a lot of gay. They just had a guy, they were talking about a gay gentleman in the NFL. Do you think there's more gay men in the NFL that we just don't know about?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely.

[Theo Von]

And they're afraid to say.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely. They probably don't want to it make every. Make people uncomfortable and immediately make it a big deal. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I'm sure it is. I'm sure it is. And this I wouldn't. I wouldn't have a problem with it, you know, because I'd be the one making jokes.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I listen. I'd be the one making jokes. I don't care what you are. Gay, trans, abc. I don't care. I'm accepting of all.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And I would. I would have.

[Theo Von]

But yeah, I would. Still kind of caught up on them.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.

[Theo Von]

And it's probably for the best because if you get some good jokes going. That's the thing about joking all the time. It's like they tried to make joking a crime over the past like 10 years.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Everything is. Everybody's very sensitive.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. That's one reason I like AB Is because he just, you know, in his heart that he probably doesn't have a lot of malice in that world.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

But he likes to have fun. You know, that's one thing I think that black culture does better than white culture does is tell jokes.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Dude.

[Theo Von]

If you get around and you start clowning on somebody, but you're right there with them, they know you were supporting.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

But man. And then, you know the next bullet is coming. Right. The next time they get a chance, it's coming for you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, most definitely.

[Theo Von]

That's the most fun, dude.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I don't know why, why people are they call it homophobic? You know, I think. And I think that's one of the reasons a lot of players don't want to come out, you know, or people in general that might swing the other way. I mean, shoot, it just. It is. Is who you live in your truth.

[Theo Von]

And plus they got some gangster gay dudes out there now, bro. It's not like the gay dudes 20 years ago.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Everybody was feminine now.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, whatever. Drawing a rainbow bright or something.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They got gay dudes to beat your ass.

[Theo Von]

God.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Literally. Literally. Listen, I've always been fond of that. That community. They've always showed love to me and I've always showed love back.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah, they got some severe gay dudes. That's a song right there by Es. I didn't know they had this song.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I never. I never heard this.

[Theo Von]

Who sings that? That's great. This is crazy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, it's funny. It's funny. Especially where we are in the world right now.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That some people, based on occupation and based on what you do, you really can't come out because it can jeopardize what you have going on.

[Theo Von]

But it feels like the only place that is kind of. Well, maybe there's. I'm sure there's probably like some like. Probably farming communities, like, you know, I bet there's probably farming communities and maybe the end. And maybe athletics, but I don't know. In women's athletics, it's accepted.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, it's accepted. Yeah.

[Theo Von]

It's probably just. In men's athletics, do you think that there's a. If you took the gay players from all the team, you think you could make a. You think you could make a gay team in the NFL?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, probably not.

[Theo Von]

So you don't think there's enough gay men to make a team?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, no, not that many.

[Theo Von]

Which division you think in the NFL probably have the most gay players?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I have no idea. That's a good. That's a good one. I have no idea because. I don't know. I don't know. Everybody preference.

[Theo Von]

Right. But if you guess even just by looking at some. Let's pull up the. Just pull up the.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's the funny thing about. You can't look at somebody in tail.

[Theo Von]

No, you can't. But I'm just saying look at some of these records, though. The Cowboy, that's last year. No. Oh, okay.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Hey, that's a. That's a good one. I mean, to be able to statistically rate how many people would be. You. You would never know.

[Theo Von]

Right? You would never know. It's fun to guess your friends. But I will say this. I. I think it would be great if they had a gay team.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You think so?

[Theo Von]

Yeah, because you know how many people support them. Yeah, people want.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, they. It would be huge.

[Theo Von]

People always want the underdog, right? Yeah, they always want.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Would they really be the underdog?

[Theo Von]

I. That's a good point.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Would they really be Done the dog.

[Theo Von]

Right. But I think they would be billed as the underdog.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right, Just in general.

[Theo Von]

Right, in general. That's a good point. Now, that's a fair statement. Would they actually physically incapability, be the underdog? No, we have no idea.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

Because we don't know what the team is. But I think they would get billed as this underdog, which would give them a chip on their shoulder type of mentality, you know, I think it's one of the same reasons why you see.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Like, oh, they have a national gay football.

[Theo Von]

They got a squad already. I'm telling you, bro, we're getting close. And everybody throw with their left arm in that thing.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Boy.

[Theo Von]

God, look at that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I didn't know. I didn't know they had that.

[Theo Von]

Oh, I bet that type, dude. I went to the women's lingerie bowl one time.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I remember lingerie football used to be huge.

[Theo Von]

They hit each other.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They go crazy. I've seen some of the clips on.

[Theo Von]

Twitter, and they were beautiful, too. Gosh.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Oh, I like. I like the outfits.

[Theo Von]

God, yeah. I like the shoulder pads, legs, breasts, knees, everything. Head, arms.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah.

[Theo Von]

God, that was nice. Yeah. Right here.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And they would talk. They talk a lot of trash.

[Theo Von]

They talk a lot of. Right there. They'd be like, I'm gonna knock your ovaries out, gangster. Like that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

This is dope.

[Theo Von]

I'm gonna knock your nipples off that say like that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Hey, I want to. Do they still. They don't have this anymore, huh?

[Theo Von]

I don't know. Have you ever considered investing in a type of athletically.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Nah, nah. No, I. I will stick to the things I know. And that. That is. That is cigars. Yeah, cigars and kids. Those are my investments. Okay.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Do you think they have one last question on gay players? You think they got enough. Oh, oh. Tell me this. You think they got enough gay players in the NFL to beat the. Be real with me, Ocho.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I have no idea. You would have to go by position. Is there one gay player to each position that is one of the best in the game at their position. But even then, I'm not sure. The jets obviously look bad last year. Ain't no telling. Ain't no telling how they're going to be this year now that they have a quarterback in Justin Fields. So we'll see what happens. That's a good question.

[Theo Von]

I would like to see that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I like that hypothetical.

[Theo Von]

Thank you, sir. I would love to see that. And who would I even cheer for that I would cheer for the gay team.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I probably would too.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, I'll be out there. Shit, I would coach my waterboard and dogs, I'd be out there. Waterboard who? We got a little bit of zest sauce for everybody in the huddle. How tough is it for a player if you're going to a new team if you know that the quarterback hasn't had a ton of success? Is that a tough spot to be in? How do you manage your expectations? Like, you know, you're going to a team where, you know, maybe you leaving a team that had like a Drew Brees or a Tom Brady, right. And you know the balls are coming, right. You know they're going to be in a vicinity where you can catch them and you know there's going to be 30 passes a game. And then you, you get into a spot where you're at a quarterback that's going to throw 22 passes a game and he's maybe going to get 170 yards out of 140 yards.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You know, it all depends on the quarterback and the offense you go to and how much they're going to use you. It's all about on how good you are. Obviously, if you're going to another team, most of the time you're not who you thought you were. Oh, most of the time.

[Theo Von]

So you have to think about that if you weren't, if you weren't regarded that much that they are keeping you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You're not who you thought unless you're on the back end of your career. Normally once a player hits year 10, they move on from you, regardless of who you are, no matter how good you are. You know, Jerry Rice to Randy Moss. At some point teams moved, even moved on from them. And we talk about some of the great, you know, greats era. But when it happens early, you know, you and year three or year four, it is time to look in the mirror and say, how can I make myself more valuable if they were willing to move on from me?

[Theo Von]

And what are ways you think that players can do that? Like what can you do to make yourself.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Got to work on your craft. You got to work on your craft. How there are players coming in year in, year out, always. But how can I continue to main make sure my value stays at A high level.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Where to? Where no matter who's coming out, you won't be able to get this kind of production from anyone else. And that's, that's, that's the fight. Every year, you got somebody coming behind you.

[Theo Von]

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[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. In other ways to a squad outside of production.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. And that's. You believe that? That's what.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Veteran leadership, you know, around a bunch of young guys, someone that conducts themselves the right way in the locker room. A good locker room presence can, can. Can carry you on an extra two or three years in the NFL.

[Theo Von]

So that's not a myth.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, no, absolutely. They, you know, coaches like that, coaches like that, a good guy, clean guy, one that, you know, not going to have any problems. He's going to show the young dudes on how to work, how to work on your craft and approach and study, study film and stuff like that. That's very valuable outside of production.

[Theo Von]

Amen. Do you think when you look at your career, do you think you could have operated differently in some years to get. Have gotten more out of yourself? Right. We all look, you know, because I'm critical of myself. Right. You know, I look back and I want to. To do the best I can, even though I don't know what it is sometimes. But I want to do my best. And sometimes I'll look at certain interviews, like I interviewed Mark Zuckerberg a couple weeks ago from the Facebook guy, you know, and I like, I should have done. I knew I could have done better. I think I had like a little bit of a plan, but I think I got nervous. And so when I look back on that, I'm like, man, I wish I would have asked some things that were more important.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

Things I really wanted to ask, but I was afraid to.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

Do you look back in certain years of your career? You're like, yeah, I could have done some things differently at this time. Either I was younger or I was.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I mean, when I look back at my career, I would have done everything I did, plus more, because I had some great ideas that I didn't get. Didn't get a chance to do, you know, like.

[Theo Von]

What do you mean by that?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I mean, just the fun. The fun. I would. I would have pushed the envelope even more, really.

[Theo Von]

Just having a good time.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Having a good time. Because, listen, NFL is not for long, and I had a short window to maximize as much as I could. Not out of myself and out of the NFL. And I did. I did just that. Which is one of the reasons why I'm still going to this day, pushing forward.

[Theo Von]

But looking back, you're like, man, if I'd have known what I know now, if I'd have known then what I know now, then I could have done even more, right?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, most definitely. But that, like.

[Theo Von]

Is that what you mean? Or do you mean like, physically training? More like, do you feel like.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, no, no. Just my approach to the game in general. Just on field stuff.

[Theo Von]

So would you. Why? Do you feel like your attitude was different at certain years?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I was the same always. I was always authentic myself. What you see right now, off camera or on camera, it's the same way I was on field.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, that wasn't that. That wasn't a character. That was really me. And I just chose not to conform and not to behave the way they said I should.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

The way I played the NFL, the same way I played when I was in high school, it was the same way I played when I was in Pop Warner. Just because you paid me millions of dollars, I'm not changing who I am just for that. Absolutely not.

[Theo Von]

Did you ever have teams try to, like, tell you to pie like.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No. They loved it.

[Theo Von]

Never.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They loved it. The referees loved it. Opposing teams, coaches loved it. Opposing teams, players loved it. Everything. Everything I did.

[Theo Von]

I could see that. Because there's. There's kind of a thing, like, even if somebody's the enemy, if they're an enjoyable enemy, do you kind of just thankful to have somebody around that's going to keep you entertained, that's going to keep things fun?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Not only entertainment, but what I brought to the game and those I'm playing against. It was nothing but a competitive nature. Nothing I did was malicious. Yeah, but you knew one thing. If we playing Ocho, are we playing the Bengals in general? I got to come to play because I'm gonna challenge you during the week through the media.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, I sent.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I sent gifts to the defenses we were playing, to the secondaries, just to make it fun.

[Theo Von]

What kind of stuff? Like high heels or something?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, no. Like, PeptoBid sent Pepto Bismol to the Browns. I Sent. I said, oh.

[Theo Von]

Cause you about to deal with this.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I'm gonna make you sick to your stomach. I sent gifts to the Falcons before. Who else? The Steelers. I sent, I sent them some. Just, just, just fun, man. Just fun stuff. And they would, they would always get the packages Saturday morning. Look, I hear.

[Theo Von]

Bro, you like a dangerous Santa.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It just, just happened. I was going to make them sick or they were going to get sick of covering me. So here's some Pepto ahead of time. All fun.

[Theo Von]

Oh, that's hilarious. And it just kind of stuff can really affect a defense, you think? Just their mentality. What do you think it really does?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It messes them up. Because if you get. If you go out there and you trying to kill me, that lets me know you're out of control. Oh, you're out of control. So I, I do stuff like that. If I can. I like to play mental gymnastics.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

If I can get you out of your game. If I can get you talking to me in the middle of a game, I got a. I got a little edge on you. A little edge on you. Just, just. I did that. That small.

[Theo Von]

You're worried about me personally. You're not worried about me as a player.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Bingo. And you're not worried about the game in general as a whole itself.

[Theo Von]

Damn, dude, stuff like that is so true. It's like because you. Because even when you say, if you look back on a moment in your life, you're like, damn, I could have been a little bit more locked in or I let this get me a little. And it did affect me. And that happens.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

So then if you think that of ahead that way, you think if I can cause that to them. Yeah. And I know that that outcome really occurs, then that, Then that me causing that is worthwhile.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Theo Von]

That's true.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

The funny thing about it is, is being out of control and trying to hurt an individual that you're playing against, which is what happened to me every game. I had no problem because I enjoyed playing very calm under chaos. So you're going to be chaotic. Somebody nice and relaxed and calm. And you being angry. That split second of anger, you're gonna miss, you're gonna whiff. You know, this is the game of football is a game of inches.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And once I know I'm in your head, I'm gonna always have that half inch over you every time.

[Theo Von]

Who hit you the hardest when you were playing?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Do you feel like Brian Russell. Brian Russell. Brian Russell. Cleveland Browns. Garbage time. Carson threw a slant over the middle Game is over. There was no reason I was supposed to be in the game and I was. I was knocked out there. Watch this. Up top. All the way up top.

[Theo Von]

36 for Cincinnati. O. Oh, God. Intercepted.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And that is the one hit I. The one hit I took and was concussed.

[Theo Von]

Intercepted. Yeah. And did he even call your email you?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He didn't nothing. It. It was good. I enjoy. You see the score line? Huh? 3410. Why am I, why am I even in the game? And it's what, a minute going o' clock.

[Theo Von]

But real talk, though, if they had taken you out of the game at this point, would you have been upset? Do you guys want to be in there getting stuck stats or what's it really like?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You know, I don't know why we were in a game at that point. I'm, I'm not sure that that game was over. Obviously. The Battle of Ohio, one of the, one of the biggest games.

[Theo Von]

That's a good point. People came. Maybe they don't want to see the star the whole time.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

So when you was there a quarterback that you. Do you feel like you got the best opportunity with your quarterback?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Hell yeah. Carson. Yeah, absolutely.

[Theo Von]

Just don't know. You don't know if people are sitting.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

There thinking like whoever the quarterback is, didn't matter. You don't think that? No, because I'm, I'm coming in and my skill set was at a point in how I felt was, I'm going to make your job easy. Barbara was the officer coordinator when we played. I'm making your job easy. If you know, you need to play and you need a catch or you need a. Whatever it may be, you know whose number to call. Oh, yeah, that's my mindset. Like, I don't, I don't need you to be great throwing the ball. Just put it in the area. Just anywhere in the area. I'll take it. I'll take it a rest.

[Theo Von]

Was there. Do you think players sometimes, like at the end of games are like asking coaches, hey, give me trade for me or something like that?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

People secretly like, yeah, that happens all the time. Yeah, that now that happens all the time. No.

[Theo Von]

So people say it quick in that quick little hook. Hey, trade me.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Hey, trade for me. Yeah, absolutely. Trade for me.

[Theo Von]

Damn. Because you wonder. Them hugs are fast, but sometimes you see their mouth moving.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. That's why you see players always cover their mouth. But it's hard now because everybody's mic'd up. Oh, yeah, Everybody's mic'd up. So yeah, that happens, though. That's a good one.

[Theo Von]

Do you feel like it's a. I wish I had me a cigar. I would try one, man. I should have got one. If I catch up with this weekend, I'll get. I'll hit one.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Okay.

[Theo Von]

You have your own brand?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, 85, remember?

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I don't bring them up.

[Theo Von]

Let me get a. Look, let me get a gander at them dogs right there. And where do y' all get that? Where do y' all get the.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Dominican lettuce?

[Theo Von]

What's it called? Nicotine leaf?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

The leaf. Tobacco.

[Theo Von]

Tobacco, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And Dr. Now we. We do mass production.

[Theo Von]

Y' all get down there in Dominican Republic, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, yeah. Now we just distribute from Nicaragua now.

[Theo Von]

Really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

That's where my dad's from, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Real. That's dope. That's dope.

[Theo Von]

That's crazy, bro.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah.

[Theo Von]

Wow. What are the odds of that, man? Boavitas.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

The good life, baby.

[Theo Von]

Do you think. Is this a make or break year for Joe Burrow? Tell me what you think. What do you think, Ojo?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, not make or break? No.

[Theo Von]

You don't think so?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No. Absolutely not. Make or break what? He ain't going nowhere.

[Theo Von]

I know. Perception of. Maybe in the perception of fans, you think it's.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, they got a great offense, you know, crazy offense.

[Theo Von]

I agree, but so at that point, if. If you're going to give up 35 points, you've got to be able to score 40.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Bingo. Like, I'm glad you said that. Now what we do need to do is we need to start fast. We just start early, you know, in the beginning of the season, you know, losing to the Patriots the way we did in the beginning of the season, it hurt us on the. On the back end. We need to start fast. We don't have to round other teams to lose or win for us. They have an opportunity to get into the playoffs. I don't. Nobody wants to see us offensively if we make it into the playoffs.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Ravens, very good. Bills, very good. Chiefs, very good. And that will always be the three or four teams that are in. In the hunt every. Every season.

[Theo Von]

Who. Who's a team you think coming this year might actually have a. That that's going to be something different, do you think?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Ooh, that's a good one. That's a good one. There's always a surprise team every year.

[Theo Von]

Because I'm a Saints guy. The Saints started off last year. They had two big games out of the gate.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yep.

[Theo Von]

They beat Dallas by 30. They scored over 40 the first two games.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Then it went bad.

[Theo Von]

I mean, went so sour.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

So I have no idea. And it's hard to tell now you have, you have some special players that have, that have got drafted. So we're going to see how they can impact the game early and impact that team in general.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

So I'm curious, I'm excited to see, you know, what Travis Hunter does in Jacksonville. I'm excited to see what Abdul Carter does. Jackson Dart, who is.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Who's over in New York now.

[Theo Von]

He probably is with the Giants, right?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, yeah. He'll probably, he'll probably sit down and Russell will be at the helm.

[Theo Von]

That's going to be a pressure, some market over there, but it'll be interesting because Russell, you don't really know how it's going to go.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, yeah. But listen, they got Malik neighbors, so they're going to be all right.

[Theo Von]

LSU got Washington commanders right there. I'm excited for them.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They're going to always be in the hunt. Every year. Every football team in NFL is a quarterback away from being in contention year in and year out. The commanders have their quarterback for the next decade.

[Theo Von]

Why is it so hard to have? Because usually you have about six, seven team, eight team that have good quarterbacks. Right. The quarterback does well that year. Why is it so hard to have that position be good?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, it's hard to find a quarterback that's good.

[Theo Von]

But it's crazy. There's a ton of.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It's like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. There's not a ton of quarterbacks. You have tier ones. You know your tier one quarterback, 200.

[Theo Von]

NCAA team, and you have a lot of guys that can play quarterback.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They're not that good.

[Theo Von]

Right?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They're not that good. There's a reason why, you know your Patrick Mahomes, your Joe Burrows, Lamar Jackson, you, your Josh Allens.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence should be in that conversation. C.J.

[Theo Von]

Stroud, you got guys that are right there in that second range.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, those, those are tier one quarterbacks or should be based on their talent, but I don't know.

[Theo Von]

But then you get a guy like an Andy Dalton, he's a game manager, does a good job, right. But never can kind of get over that. That's like 9 and 7 or 6, 6 and 8. He never can really. It just kind of amazed me sometimes. I'm like, you think that they would just try put anybody in there, give him a shot?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Nah, it doesn't Work that way. You put anybody in there, you'll be home, man. You put anybody in there. That's how coaches get fired. Oh, yeah, you're getting fired.

[Theo Von]

Do you ever think of coaching, getting into it?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely not.

[Theo Von]

No.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No. They don't pay enough. And I make more now doing what I'm doing. I make more now than when I was playing.

[Theo Von]

Damn.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

So I'm. I'm good.

[Theo Von]

And that's such a blessing because, dude, a lot of guys, the. The. Their career is hard enough to get out of college, get on an NFL team, right? And then that is huge for those guys. Make. Get the bread while you can get there. But then to have a career after that, it's like I. Looking at the busting with the boys. Guys like Taylor Lawan and Will Compton. They got in early. They have a great space now. Like, there's so much, like, they have, like, a real imprint in the. In. In. In society, you know?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, they do. They doing really well.

[Theo Von]

It's cool. It's cool to see that kind of.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

McAfee did it. Did it well. Did well with his as well.

[Theo Von]

Oh, dude. Yeah, he's. Nobody's like him.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah.

[Theo Von]

There's nobody like him, man. Yeah. I'm trying to think of what else is going on, man, that's interesting to. To create a family based on. I'm building for success. Right?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely.

[Theo Von]

Is it hard to manage that big of a family with that many children? What's that like, really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I run a tight ship, Everybody. Hey, I run a tight ship. Those I have kids from, we have the same end goal. We got the same end goal. And those I have kids from awesome mothers. Awesome mothers. No issues, no nothing.

[Theo Von]

How do you pick a good mother then? That's an even. That's an important question, I think, because a lot of people, they'll just, you know, I don't ever do no ejaculation inside of my life, you know, you'll.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Never know, you know, that what a good mother is. But those I have.

[Theo Von]

Oh, you don't think you can tell? Just get.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

There's no way to tell. How would I. Would you. It's impossible.

[Theo Von]

Well, I'm just saying, if you meet a lady and they're a good lady.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I mean, being a good lady doesn't mean you'll be a good mother, you know, And I only date women that already have kids.

[Theo Von]

You can get it. You can take that kid off to the sides. Hey, man, what plays y' all calling around?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It's just weird. Just weird. Yeah, you gotta have two or more kids.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. That's a thing.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, you got to. Because I mean, for me, dating a woman with no kids. They never have food at home.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They always want to go out to eat.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You know what it's like? No, Theo, I don't know if you experience this. Like, you know what it's like to have sex with someone that has kids and wake up at 3, 3:30 in the morning, Get a Capri Sun.

[Theo Von]

That's good.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, bro, that's amazing, bro.

[Theo Von]

I mean, with half a mouth full of lunchable. I'll make love all night.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yes. See, that's what I'm talking about.

[Theo Von]

That's who I am. Boy, with a jaw full of them little shape.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's important to me.

[Theo Von]

God, I love that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Having snacks in the pantry, dude.

[Theo Von]

Cuz you kind of get to be a kid and a husband at the same time in a way.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

That's interesting.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Those are. Those are my rules. Everyone. Some people. Oh, she has. I don't care.

[Theo Von]

Oh, and if you wake up in the middle of the night, you can play video games too.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh my God. We on the same page.

[Theo Von]

That's a kid up. I'll go another room. Wake a little. Little rain.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Hey, let's run. Let's run Call of Duty real quick.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Randall, get up.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Let's go do it. Let's run, duo.

[Theo Von]

You about to get schooled right now.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Up. I love it. I love it.

[Theo Von]

Especially if they ass up.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Especially if she has older kids.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, that's perfect. Oh, that's perfect.

[Theo Von]

Dang, That's a great point.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I mean, that's just me. Everyone else's thought processes and thought process and approach to dealing with women isn't like mine. And that. That's fine.

[Theo Von]

Well, yeah, a lot of people. Yeah. They just. But it's risky out there. I think having some strategy as to what you do with your own seed is important.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Very.

[Theo Von]

Did you. You mentioned that your grandma. Your. Your grandmother raised you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

What was your. So did you. Did your grandma raise your siblings too, or just you?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It was just me. And my brother was raised with my mom.

[Theo Von]

Okay.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's how I ended up in la. My mom was in LA at the time. And so my grandma. After I graduated high school, I went to Langston University. Yeah. NAIA school in. In Oklahoma. And I got thrown out for fighting. So I went back to Miami after getting expelled. And my grandma was like, listen, I've done all I can with you. I washed my hands. I.

[Theo Von]

And that's how he was in a bad spot.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. That's how I ended up in LA at Santa Monica.

[Theo Von]

Why? Was your attitude bad?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I just like to fight.

[Theo Von]

You like to fight?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Unfortunately, fist fighting. Yeah, I like this fighting. Like I'm gonna beat James Harrison ass.

[Theo Von]

You fighting him?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

James Harrison from Pittsburgh Steelers.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I'm him up.

[Theo Von]

I thought he passed away, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, no, no, no, no, no, he's okay. Yeah, he's. He's. He's alive and well.

[Theo Von]

Bring up a picture of him. Well, not for long once you get him up. Yeah, listen, bring up a picture of him then. You have a child named. I thought he had his son that played James Harrison. Yeah, he's a coach, isn't he?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, no, no, no. He done coach.

[Theo Von]

Oh, no, he ain't a coach. God, he doing calendar work.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

God damn. He doing. He on Only Fans. Look at this over here.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, that's Debo. That's Debo.

[Theo Von]

God, I ain't going near his cage.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

God dang. They.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, he's huge.

[Theo Von]

He's a junkyard.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He looks intimidating, doesn't he?

[Theo Von]

Yes, he does.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I don't give a.

[Theo Von]

You really gonna fight him?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Him up?

[Theo Von]

God. I'll stand. I'll coach you, bro. Yeah, I'll do your water in the back. I'll put ice on your neck.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Very good friend of mine, but, you know, sometimes it comes. You got to come back. Hey, look, sometimes you got to establish dominance as a little man.

[Theo Von]

Sometimes. It is what it is. Why are y' all fighting? Y' all are upset with each other.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I just don't like his face. It's punchable.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah, he does.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Look, he has a punchable face.

[Theo Von]

Bring up another picture of that punchable man. God. Hey, bro. Now, I wouldn't hit this guy. Bring up the other picture. Go back to the other one. Yeah, but. Yeah, not his guy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Wow. Yeah, he's huge, right?

[Theo Von]

And are y' all fighting just for fun?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No MMA style.

[Theo Von]

Oh, y' all. Y' all doing mma?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, he can kick. He can do everyone.

[Theo Von]

Did you go to the. You one of the fight that's coming up here, or they just had one here?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I think they did. I went here. I was. I was out of town working.

[Theo Von]

Do you like to go to him?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I like it. I'm a boxing fan more.

[Theo Von]

I can't believe each other.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I like. I like boxing better.

[Theo Von]

And who's this James Harrison?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, that's my crazy ass in there boxing.

[Theo Von]

Oh, that's you?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Oh, so you really like it, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I remember. This was. This was fun.

[Theo Von]

Who was this against?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Brian Maxwell. He does Brian Maxwell. Does Brian. Bare knuckle. Bare knuckle Boxing. Yeah. Good friend of mine, I got.

[Theo Von]

Dang. What's tough about boxing, man, that people don't realize?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Conditioning, conditioning, you got to be well conditioned. And for this, I only had two weeks to get ready. And since then, I think that was in 20, 21, if I'm not mistaken. And I've been training since, just having fun.

[Theo Von]

Could you fight a guy like. You couldn't fight Jake Paul, though.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I think the weight class is. He's so much. So much bigger.

[Theo Von]

He's heavy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, he's heavy.

[Theo Von]

He's a heavy guy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I'm only. I'm what maybe now and put on a little size, about maybe 190. Who's.

[Theo Von]

Somebody you would challenge out there then? Who's like a real who? I'm trying to think of somebody.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I just. I just want to fight Debo. I just want to fight James.

[Theo Von]

Well, he's willing to do it, isn't he?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Yeah, we're going to do it.

[Theo Von]

Who can I see you love?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Then we're going to. Then we're going to be friends after.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah. Dude. When I remember when I was in school, if you got in a fight, the principal, they made you stand in a hall, right? And you had to put your hands on the shoulder of the person you fought, right? And so y' all had to be. By the end of the day, y' all were friends because.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

You're right here the whole time. And the other kids would get out of class, have to walk by. And so by the end, this person became your.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

You had to get over whatever it was because you had to be right there next to each other.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I like that.

[Theo Von]

What's the part that you miss about playing? I mean, I know it's kind of a general question. What's something you miss about playing that people wouldn't even think about?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

For me, it was competing in practice.

[Theo Von]

Even just in practice was fun.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I miss it. I miss competing in practice. Where you got. That's. That's what's difficult. The games on Sunday. That's fun. That's the easy part. Practice and competing, preparation. I missed that. I miss watching film. I really. I really do. I miss watching film, especially on defenses and in D, in defensive backs and knowing what they were going to do before it even happened. I knew it was coming. Whether it be down in distance, first down, second down, third down, all that shifting in motion that they like to do, playing around in the secondary. It. I know what you're doing before you even do it. And I. I miss that. I miss being prepared. So the entertainment value I bought.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Was only done because I had studied to a T. I studied to a T. You know, it's not like I'm just getting up.

[Theo Von]

You weren't there just goofing around.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, it looks like it.

[Theo Von]

Right?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

There's no way to have that kind of success with. Without knowing what you're doing. Without knowing what I'm doing or knowing what you're doing before I even go do it.

[Theo Von]

What do you think the NFL could do differently now to make it more exciting or to make it a better product?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

If anything, I mean, listen, it is the best product. It's really nothing. This. Really.

[Theo Von]

Do you think so? I think the NFL's going down, man. No, I don't think it's. I think people like college better. Hell, some people like damn WNBA better.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I don't like the. Absolutely not.

[Theo Von]

Some people do. Some young men do.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I don't.

[Theo Von]

A couple guys do.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. The NFL will always be the cream of. The cream of the crown.

[Theo Von]

You think so?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Always.

[Theo Von]

I don't. There's something about it sometimes. I don't know if the field should be bigger. I don't know what should happen.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It's.

[Theo Von]

Sometimes I feel like it. Like the guys have almost gotten too fast. Where I feel like sometimes with the running backs is what I do feel like you don't get to see enough good moves because there's not enough space for them to do them in because everybody's so fast now.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

I don't know if that's true or not. Yeah. But I feel that way sometimes. Like, I don't know if you could have a Barry Sanders now. Not because you couldn't have the same guy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Good. You just will never have another Barry Sanders. That ain't happening.

[Theo Von]

That might be fair.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That is not happening. Absolutely not.

[Theo Von]

That might be fair.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Not even close.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. It just looked like the, you know, like it used to be once you got around the defensive end wasn't going to get out there to get you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, you know, most of the time players back then were not as fast. Now we have, you know, d linemen, even d tackles that running four or five.

[Theo Von]

Right. But I'm saying, does that. Does that make it tougher for somebody's backs to get out of the backfield?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Not at all. You just have to be that much better.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You Got to be that much better.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. I'm wondering why sometimes it feels like it's not the same as it used to be. It's amazing. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that the guys aren't extremely talented there.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

But sometimes I just wonder, as a fan. Are you a WNBA fan?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, absolutely. I had an opportunity to go to my first game in Atlanta.

[Theo Von]

You did?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yo, that was amazing in Atlanta. And the product in general. I don't know all the gripes that people have about the wnba.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, that was amazing.

[Theo Von]

I know.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, my goodness.

[Theo Von]

I had to.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Atmosphere from quarter one, the halftime, dude. It felt like I was at the club, and I don't even go to the club. And the first thing I thought about was, wait, is this what it's like when you. You know, when it comes to the nightlife? I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Dude, I had a great time. I went to Las Vegas Aces game. Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It was nice, bro.

[Theo Von]

It's so much fun. I tell my friends, if they're in Vegas, like, what show should I go see? I say, if the Aces are playing, go see it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Go see them.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. It's just such a. Yeah. There's like. I don't know. People love the game. You could tell they really are invested into the game. Right? And this is when they had Kate Martin, they had the ch. They had the girl who won MVP three years in a row. This one. That Asia Wilson. They still have Asia Wilson.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. He's just still there.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

But, dude, it was unbelievable, bro. I had a great time. And we got to sit, right, bro, that. We were playing Dallas sp. The Dallas Mystic, I think is their name. They were. Their coach was right there, dude. I was. I was chirping them during the game, man. It was ridiculous, dude.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I love. I love the wnba, man. I love the product they have.

[Theo Von]

I love the product. I would like to invest in a WNBA team, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I think Miami needs a team.

[Theo Von]

I think in Nashville needs a team.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, that'd be nice.

[Theo Von]

Because it kind of reminds me, I feel like, of what you might see with the NBA before everybody could dunk. And I don't mean that in any type of way other than you have to rely on good passing. Like, there's a lot of stuff you have to rely on where the NBA doesn't have to rely on it as much anymore.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

Do you think you can still play or no?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Me?

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No.

[Theo Von]

Come on, bro. You can't talk yourself up this whole time.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You can't even get back out. See, I got to be realistic as well. The mind knows what to do. The mind knows what to do. Based on years of playing in. In IQ on field iq, but the body won't react the way I want it to.

[Theo Von]

Bro. You could play for the Titans.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, no, you got. You guys have. Yo, you guys got a good one in Calvin Ridley.

[Theo Von]

Oh, no, I know we have. I mean, Calvin really is one of the best. Right. I don't think Atlanta should have let him go. But we could use you over there, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Even just for the. Where we would come to watch you play though.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Now, what about that element of it? Has any team reached out to you in later years?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely not. No.

[Theo Von]

To say we just to sell tickets.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely. I. I can do that.

[Theo Von]

That's what I'm saying.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I can fill a stadium up.

[Theo Von]

Well, that's what I'm talking about.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, but not at this day and age. No, but people would love to watch it back then. Yes, yes.

[Theo Von]

People would love to watch it. I'm trying to think of something else that we could talk about. Chad, anything you want to talk about, it's on you. Yeah, thanks.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It's on you.

[Theo Von]

Thanks, bro. Is it tough, though? Let me think about this realistically. When you have eight children. You have eight children.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I want two more.

[Theo Von]

You do?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. I'm probably gonna do. Is it called ibf? I want to. I want twins. Oh, I want twins. And I'm done.

[Theo Von]

Why you want twins? Today you have to battle two Johnson's on the field at once.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, not really. I just want. I just want to end on even numbers and.

[Theo Von]

Okay. And. And on a grand finale, you got to end with a big move.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

There we go.

[Theo Von]

A two point conversion.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I like that. So we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens.

[Theo Von]

Do you have to pick your children's names or your wife gets to pick them or you're.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, whoever. I'm dating.

[Theo Von]

The mother.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. They get to pick.

[Theo Von]

Really? They get to pick every time?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, of course.

[Theo Von]

Is that a thing?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I don't know. I just. This way I operate. I'm not worried about names really. No.

[Theo Von]

So the mother gets to pick out every one of your children's names. Did you. Did she say, hey, what do you think about this name?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, always.

[Theo Von]

And when you sit on say yes or no, you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I say whatever you want to do. We rocking with it.

[Theo Von]

Wow, bro.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. My son. My son graduates from Arizona. Arizona State.

[Theo Von]

He's a Sun Devil.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, he.

[Theo Von]

He plays Football there.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, he's. He's done.

[Theo Von]

He's done.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He's done. Yeah.

[Theo Von]

How is it tough for your. If you have a child and do they feel like they have to live in your shoes? How do you have that. But how do you have that conversation with them as a. A parent?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You do as. As a parent, even though I play football. If you want to play, that's on you. If you don't want to play, I'm supporting whatever it is you want to do. I'm not like, I'm not one of those parents that push and push. You're going to do this? No, absolutely not. Whatever.

[Theo Von]

But do you feel like the children feel some type of pressure or. No. Just in their own.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I would hope not, because the pressure would be coming from me.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

The outside noise. That has nothing to do with anything. Whatever you dream and want to do, I must support it.

[Theo Von]

Which one of your children is most like you, do you think?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Probably my daughter runs track.

[Theo Von]

Really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

University of Kentucky.

[Theo Von]

Is she like your mom too, or no?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

A little bit. It's a little bit of both us. A little bit of both us. A little bit of both us.

[Theo Von]

Like, what does she have? Like, what tendencies does she have, you think that make her like you?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Athletic ability.

[Theo Von]

Okay.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Athleticism. And all of them are athletic. I think, honestly, her. Her sister who didn't run track, she's a a.k.a. she goes to prayer view. A m. I think she. If she chose to run track or just be an ath, I think she would be faster. So she's the diva. She's the. She's the Beyonce of the kids.

[Theo Von]

Oh, really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, she's the diva.

[Theo Von]

Who was a bigger diva, do you think? You or Terrell Owens, do you think?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I don't think. We're not even divas. That's just a word. I'm not sure why they use that word. It just doesn't describe male divas, then. No. Who's a better player? Tio.

[Theo Von]

So one of your daughters is maybe more athletic, but she chooses not to do it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

What does she like to do?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

She's a dancer.

[Theo Von]

Oh, really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

She's a dancer. She's mua. She can. She can dress her ass off.

[Theo Von]

Oh, so she's stylish.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, my goodness, yes. Oh, yeah. That's my baby.

[Theo Von]

That's interesting.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's my baby.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. I would like to have maybe a stylish little child.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Now I have a daughter also who's. Who's in the tennis. Cheyenne called. We call that called a cha cha. So Good. Already eight years old. So good. Forehand, forehand, backhand. So good. You don't understand. We're gonna have this conversation again of maybe five years from now. And I'll be like, theo, remember what I told you. There she is right there on tour.

[Theo Von]

Love, love. Wow. Where does she play at? She plays in Florida.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Yeah, she's in Florida. She's in Florida. I have a younger son, Savion. Football crazy here in Florida. Crazy. Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Your life must be pretty busy with having to just be a dad all the time.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, it's easy. It's easy. I hear people complain. It's easy. It's easy.

[Theo Von]

What do you think that people complain about? Well, that makes it seem.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, I don't know, I just.

[Theo Von]

I mean, you do also have financial ability to at least feed and that might make that sort of thing.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I think that might make it a little easier.

[Theo Von]

I bet it does.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

From a financial standpoint, it's easy. But also being present and being active and being hands on as much as I can. Yeah, it just, I. I just like it like, you know that feeling. I get such a great feeling when we go on trips. You know, every summer we take trips as one huge group, really, just mobbing, mobbing through the airport, like 10, eight, nine kids.

[Theo Von]

Oh, that's all the women too. The moms and the children. Oh, just the children.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Just.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I take, I take everyone.

[Theo Von]

Dad and the kids. All going to be trip.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I love that.

[Theo Von]

Where did you guys go? Somewhere fun that you would recommend to another big family to go, like if they got. Because they got a lot of church families out there.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Mexico. Dr. This summer we're going to Dubai. All of us, though. It's just those trips, though. Just going to the mall when it's time to go shopping. Just walking in like one big gang. I love it.

[Theo Von]

That's interesting. It's an interesting way to think about your future and how you're raising children. But do you worry that you can't give them enough, each child, like enough mental health, an emotional connection, or you don't think about that as much or you think it's okay?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, they're good.

[Theo Von]

They're good.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They're good.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. I have no idea. Yeah, I just think that you worry about that. That's a lot of people's fear. Because it's interesting because I think people used to have more children. I think we're having less children now. You see that they're just about to give people money to have more children. You've seen that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, you know, especially in this economy too, I can understand why some people. A little bit more cautious.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

On. On having kids.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Who was an overhyped cornerback when you were playing, bro? Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I don't talk about people like that.

[Theo Von]

But if you had to guess somebody.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

If you, if you had a. I'm not doing that. I don't talk about people.

[Theo Von]

So it's negative.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, it's a negative. Yeah. Nobody's over hyped. If you made it, you're 1 percenter. You're there for a reason. You're there for a reason.

[Theo Von]

Could you tell if a guy wasn't going to be like, do you feel like there's some days when a player. They could even be great and they go into a game and it's just an off gap? Like, does that really happen?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. You have off days. Michael Jordan had off days, I had off days. Some of the best Brady Mahomes you have off days. But your good days outweigh the bad ones, Right?

[Theo Von]

The average of it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. That's a good one. That was a good question.

[Theo Von]

It was.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That was a good one.

[Theo Von]

Well, because sometimes it's like I got to do a show or something and I'm like, I don't feel like today's just not my day, but I still have to do it. Right. Or you just. Yeah. Just wonder at that level because it's, you know, it only comes down to 16 Sundays, you know.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. And some out of that 16. You're gonna have a bad one.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You know, you want to be as consistent as possible, but being perfect, you strive for perfection. So even if you do fall short, but you're gonna have bad days.

[Theo Von]

Do you worry with a lot of these young people that now they have all this max preps and all this video footage and stuff so early? Do you think that that's a positive or a negative? How do you even look at some of that? Because you have a child now who's nine years old.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

Who's watching himself either do well or not do well on a, on a film, you know?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, well, that's part of it. As a part of it, you have to evolve with the times. The parents have to evolve with the times that we're in now. Understanding that we're in a social media era and everything is magnified times 10. Everything's magnified.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. I just wonder like if that's good for a child's psyche or not.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Either way, it's not going anywhere. It's going to be here.

[Theo Von]

That's your point?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It's gonna be.

[Theo Von]

You can't romanticize the past because that's not going to come back.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Exactly. So that at that point at all it's on the parent helping the child understand water off a duck's back. No matter what it is, something goes bad in one ear, out the other next play.

[Theo Von]

What about with the. The like Nil is real popular right now. Like you have players who will have. Do you have players that will do get an nil deal?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

And then there's like a couple of windows for the N Nil. Bring up how many windows are there? Cuz there's some before the season even ends or how many transfer portals in the college season? Typically two main transportal windows.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

A a window, a winter window and a spring window. So you can have a guy come in during the winter window and I think they've had this get a deal and then he leaves during the spring window or he wants a better deal. But he just, he hadn't even done anything yet.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I mean that's, that's the game it is now. It's a pay to play.

[Theo Von]

Do you think that helps college football though over time? I mean do you think it helps keep players in college for a longer amount of time?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I think the fact that colleges in general are billion dollar institutions or entities in general and have made so much money off players likeness for so long and the players really had nothing. So I like the fact that players are now able to take advantage of their likeness and get, get paid early because everybody's not making it to the NFL, right? Everybody's not gonna get, get there. So them being able to make some, make some change, make some cash now while they're playing. I'm all for it. I'm all for it.

[Theo Von]

But do you think there will be players who don't make it because they get money early that it damages them?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No. Absolutely.

[Theo Von]

You don't think so?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, it, it could you tell me. But it's not getting that kind of.

[Theo Von]

Money in college money early. You want spinning it into the club or you're buying a wagon wheel or a Jeep, a Jeep wrangler. You're gonna tell me he's not gonna want to.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, your end goal is NFL. So you're saying your end goal is always NFL. Getting money in college shouldn't t. Shouldn't change your long term vision in your childhood dream of making it to the.

[Theo Von]

But you don't think that it's, it could, somebody could suffer absolutely.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That little bit of Money is to help you family. That's help family.

[Theo Von]

I don't. These guys are using it for that though.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Some of them, trust me, they're using. They're. You're using it for family because you don't. You know, based on where some of these individuals are coming from, this is. Is a huge help, a huge jump start to being able to help their family. But the end goal, the real money.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Is in the NFL, not nil.

[Theo Von]

What's the most somebody made in nil this past season? Let's take a look at it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Probably 4 million, maybe 5.

[Theo Von]

But you got people doing dog food commercials and in their small town and stuff getting.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Hey, get it, get it while you can.

[Theo Von]

Getting six or seven racks out there. Four years of college right there. What's the biggest nil deal? College football. The highest nil in college football. Oh, it's Arch manning. That's right. 6.7.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

How many years is that though?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

He only got three more to go.

[Theo Von]

Is that 6.7 a year, you think?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, total.

[Theo Von]

That's total.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

So that's different. But that's better than like if that's a. That's like fifth round pick or something.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You gotta remember arts comes from money anyway, so that's not. It's not new to him.

[Theo Von]

Right. It's probably not making. It's probably not making his biggest choice.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

How often do you guys tape your show.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Now? It's based on the NBA playoffs. So we're off tonight. So we just did. We just did Thursday, Wednesday and Tuesday. We're off tomorrow. No, we're off today. We're on tomorrow. Sunday, Monday and we're on Saturday. Sunday and wait. Yes.

[Theo Von]

All the time. Huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Yeah, it's fun. It's fun. You know, it's NBA games, NBA playoffs, and we always have a NBA guest on. So I'm enjoying that. I'm enjoying that.

[Theo Von]

Did you think. Do you think about other like is there another venture you like to get in or you feel like you're in a good space? It seems like you're in a good space right now.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I'm good because this is my off season. No one football season gets here. I'm on NFL Films, I'm be. I'll be on ESPN this year with Stephen A. So I'm good. This is, this is my off time.

[Theo Von]

What's he like, man? Is he really like. He seems. Stephen A.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Cool as hell. Cool as hell. He's. Stephen A. Has afforded me opportunities I couldn't, couldn't have imagined. Couldn't have imagined. Yeah. So I like it, especially being in space, being able to transition into intermediary. Yeah, it's been really good for me.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah, yeah. You gotta. I think having that. Just being able to have a voice, you know, and you still have a voice in the sport that you love.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

You still have some sort of a say or at least an opinion and stuff.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You know, most. An opinion that's respected, especially when it comes to football.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. When you look back on the. On your experience with the Bangles, what is like, obviously, you know, the play and everything like that. What was Cincinnati like then? What was the energy like then?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It was good. It was good. Especially that 2005 year, which. That was the year we were on fire offensively and obviously defense, they were having takeaways like crazy. That was our year. If Carson didn't go down in that first round of the playoffs against the Steelers, that was our year to host a horse, a trophy. That was that year. Oh, my goodness. The city was on fire. I could just imagine now. Hell with the. Every year. Every year now with Joe Burrow there, you know, you have opportunity. You got a chance.

[Theo Von]

Rudy Johnson was a beast.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah. Rudy Hoosh. Those are some good dudes, man. Matter of fact, we have a. I have a group chat with half of everybody in here. Whoosh is in there. I'm in there. Rudy Johnson is in there. We. We got Carson. Justin Smith is in that group chat. I haven't seen somebody's name. Oh, Brian Simmons in the group chat. I haven't seen some of these names so in so long. Oh, look at Odell Thurman. Odell was really good.

[Theo Von]

It's wild how some guys, it's like they'll have a great. Like, Rudy Johnson was huge for a few. He had a couple of great years.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Theo Von]

And then you didn't hear about him.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I don't. I don't know. I don't. I can't remember where Rudy went after he left.

[Theo Von]

And it's not even a judgment against him. It's just like. That's how it's like. Things come and go fast in the league, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It does. Listen, those years go by real fast. Very fast.

[Theo Von]

Damn. 11 and 5.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Damn, we were on fire, man.

[Theo Von]

And who was Yalls backup who came in as backup quarterback?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Who was our backup that year? Oh, John Kidna. He now coaches at Lakota east or Lakota West High School in Cincinnati. Carson Palmer's now coaching in la. I don't know what school he's coaching at.

[Theo Von]

And Kitna just. Could he. It wasn't. Y' all didn't break through that second round?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, no, no, man. The Steelers won that game, man. They won that game. Oh, John, that's my guy.

[Theo Von]

I'm trying to think of anything else, man, I could think about. Do you love living down here in Florida?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's all I know. Been all over the world, B. I'd have been all over the world. And it's nothing like home. No matter where I go. And I do all my traveling strictly for soccer purposes. I'm a huge soccer enthusiast. Love soccer.

[Theo Von]

You think you could have played it at a pro level?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I would have had to start when I was four years old if I started when I was four years old.

[Theo Von]

Is that intrinsic? Huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yes. I love it. I love it. I love the atmosphere, the energy. I don't think people understand. We don't look at soccer as a sport. Why you like. All they're doing is running around. The score is only 1 0. But you don't understand how beautiful that game is. You know, it's like painting a picture. And if you watch it and understand what you're watching, then you'll appreciate it more.

[Theo Von]

That's your favorite sport.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, my God. Times 10, then football.

[Theo Von]

What's the best place to see a soccer game? At anything?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

For me.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Growing up, I had the opportunity to see a River river game versus. Versus Boca Juniors in Argentina. You'll never see an atmosphere like that ever again.

[Theo Von]

Dang.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And I don't think people. It's. It's kind of dangerous, but still. River Plate and Boca Juniors, obviously, I've been. I've seen every EPL team. I've been to their stadium. They've seen every La Liga team play. I'll be El Classico. Real Madrid and Barcelona is always a good one, so a lot.

[Theo Von]

So you've been to a lot of these famous stadiums?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Every last stadium? Every. Yes, every last one. I did the World cup with Qatar with Fox. I was. I was the analyst for.

[Theo Von]

Really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, for Fox.

[Theo Von]

A lot of amazing stuff.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Dude. I love. Love soccer, man. Like, if you had to. If you had to ch. If I had to choose between going to a soccer game or just watching and having sex, I'm picking soccer every time over sex. Absolute. I don't care who it is.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I don't care who it is. Like, that's how much I love the game. The beautiful game.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. I'm trying to think. Let me think. Oh, yeah. I would probably go. Yeah. Sex sometimes gets a little bit boring. Kind of. You think?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Depends.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Maybe not boring. That's not the best word.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

But I mean, listen, I did amateur porn growing up, so for me it's.

[Theo Von]

You did amateur?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Amateur porn? Yeah. Yeah. It just. The only difference is I didn't get paid for it.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

That's why I was amateur and so were you. And were people doing. Were people filming it?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I had a tripod camera set.

[Theo Von]

Okay.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

So those tapes still out there, you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Think they did it? Earned me some good money.

[Theo Von]

Oh, you had a tape out there?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I. I had a tripod and I just sold it myself.

[Theo Von]

Oh, bet. Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

God, I don't know. I don't. I hope there's nothing out there in me.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No. Yes. Yeah. Right now, probably. Back then, I don't even think they sell the camcorders.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Back then, for someone to be able to. To blackmail me at this point.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. They might have some drawings of me having sex, though.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

There we go. Are you married?

[Theo Von]

Some clay. Figures. No. I gotta get married, man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You have a girlfriend?

[Theo Von]

Not right now, no. I'm gonna get one.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

How do you navigate that?

[Theo Von]

I just be care. Like, are you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Are you cautious on who you're dealing with based on now being.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, I'm pretty cautious.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Okay.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Because things happen. I mean, even with your co host, she just gets, you know, like there's just. I think there's more opportunities maybe. I don't know. Everything's weird now. I feel like it feels. Just feels. Things feel kind of scary. And you don't know, even if you're doing. If you're doing the right things, that somebody could take advantage of you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yep, they can.

[Theo Von]

And then at the same time, you can. I have a lot of friends that are sex addicts that get caught up just insects in that world and it becomes like an addiction to them.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. At times it can be. A lot of people. I hate when people call sex an addiction. I really don't like that. Because we. We're mammals. We're put on earth in general to. To have sex.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

To procreate in general.

[Theo Von]

We pump.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

And so I just. I hate the fact that we have all these definitions. Oh, he's an addict. No, you're not. It's. It's sex. It's something that we as humans actually do. Some do it more than others.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That just, you know, it's cool. Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Some people enjoy doing it a ton. Some people don't enjoy doing it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Some enjoy doing it with. With multiple People. Yeah. And just. It is. You ever been to a swingers club?

[Theo Von]

I never been. You've been?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I mean. Yeah, I used to. I used to work at one.

[Theo Von]

Oh, you did?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I used to be a gigolo for. For rich, rich, rich, wealthy women.

[Theo Von]

Really? Tommy Lee was a gigolo. He was? Yeah. Tommy Lee from Motley Crue?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Molly Crue.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's dope.

[Theo Von]

I mean, this is a gigolo. So you get hired to get out there and take women out on dates.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, get on dates. And, you know, obviously they had billionaire husbands, billionaire boyfriends that didn't have the time for them, and they would. I would just feel that void that they weren't getting at home because of them being busy.

[Theo Von]

So the husband just. So busy. I'm just going to. I'm going to. I'm going to treat my wife to a date. At least she can go do something.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Husband didn't know. Yeah, it was an ad. It was an ad. It was an ad in the paper.

[Theo Von]

You put your own ad out?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I put my own ad.

[Theo Von]

And what would the ad say? Ballpark.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Based on the information that. What they were looking for. I had a menu of services that I provided. And.

[Theo Von]

And was some of them sexual or not?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, someone was sexual. Someone would just be spending time, you know, dates, movies, conversation, massage, stuff like that. And most of the time, it was more about sex and, you know, fulfilling that fantasy of being with a black guy.

[Theo Von]

Oh, really?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yes.

[Theo Von]

That's a marketable fantasy, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Of Mandingo descent.

[Theo Von]

Oh, damn.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

And how do you know if someone's Mandingo or not?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, any. Anything.

[Theo Von]

Region.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Is that the lower region?

[Theo Von]

Bring it up. Where have I been? I've been to Tanzania. Mandingo on a map. Yeah. There we go. Okay. West Africa. So if they want to see that West. If they want that West African energy, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, it's. It's more of a. A term in referencing the private area.

[Theo Von]

Oh, it's a. It's a wiener term. Yeah. Oh, damn.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I didn't know it.

[Theo Von]

I've heard it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right, right.

[Theo Von]

Mandingo guy or whatever. Yeah. Okay, so you had women trying to just be with a black man.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, they just wanted to fulfill that fantasy.

[Theo Von]

And were they fair? Were they paying a decent amount?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I mean, for an hour, I can make anywhere from 3,500 to five grand.

[Theo Von]

My goodness.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

God. Would you wear your jersey or not?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, this is before I even. I hadn't even made it yet.

[Theo Von]

Oh, wow.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Because at that point, I wouldn't need the money if I'm already in the league.

[Theo Von]

Oh yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

So that's way. You know, in college, you know, you should strip too.

[Theo Von]

Did you really la at the right track? Damn.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, I was a dancer. They used to call me Twix.

[Theo Von]

Really? Why?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Because I was skinny and had a lot of veins. Oh yeah, like the Twix? Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Dang, man. Was that a fun sport?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It was fun. It was fun. It was fun.

[Theo Von]

And would you do the splits as well out there?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I didn't do the splits. I didn't do the splits. But what I did come to learn is the women of. Of 200 plus pounds or more, they tip much better than everyone else. Oh yeah, yeah.

[Theo Von]

They did, did they? Because they wanted.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, they tip. They tip well.

[Theo Von]

And would you ever get hired by those women for sexual.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

At times.

[Theo Von]

At times.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

At times, yeah.

[Theo Von]

And is it more challenging? I feel like. Do you have to do more for a. More of a Rubenesque woman? I've been with some probably medium sized girls. I've never been with like a. A real more of a larger, bigger, larger. Maybe.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

You know, like I've never been with like a big X, the plug type, 200 plus.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I love, I love. Yeah, I love that. God, I just. Do. I just. Theo, I got so many good stories, man, from back then. It's just we'd be here all day and would you.

[Theo Von]

But would you guys ever go to like a drive in movie or what would y' all do?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Holy shit. Speaking of drive in, I haven't been to a drive in in years. I don't even know. Do they still have drive in theaters? Especially here in Florida. That would be a great date. I'm so glad you brought that up.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, I would love to get to a drive in out there with a lady.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, that'd be dope.

[Theo Von]

Was it ever scary going over to a woman's house?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Absolutely not. No.

[Theo Von]

Because I already know.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I know I'm nothing to be scared of. Nothing to be scared of. I'm just, I'm going to perform, to put on a show.

[Theo Von]

And was there a certain amount of time you had to do sex for? You could just. Was it like part time or full time? Kind of.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Well, it depends on where she picks from.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Depending on how.

[Theo Von]

Depending on what you. Cash or check?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, I don't do checks. Cash, Cash up front.

[Theo Von]

Damn, bro.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

So you've always been entrepreneurial, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, most definitely. You gotta start. Gotta start somewhere.

[Theo Von]

And would you wear a special suit or a bandana or anything?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, no, just. Just banana hammock.

[Theo Von]

Just casual attire, huh?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Theo Von]

You put. Would you lotion up that wiener?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Whatever you lotion up everywhere.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oiled up.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Especially when I come on stage.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Oh, yeah.

[Theo Von]

Oh, you don't even knock. You just slide through the lock.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right on in.

[Theo Von]

Come on.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right on in.

[Theo Von]

Ocho Cinco, man. Well, I would love to go to a game with your. Whenever you go watch your daughter in Kentucky.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, it's out. It's outdoor season right now, too. It just started. So when I get up there, you got to come on down.

[Theo Von]

I'd love to, man. Do you think that some players secretly lobby to get into the hall of Fame?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I think. I think so. I mean, right. Rightfully so. That for. For those that understand. For them, if it means that much to them, you know, being a part of that. That. That entity of special people. Yes. But then there's some players also, like. Like myself, that feel that I don't really need the validation. I understand who I am and what I did during my time, and I'm. In general, I. I don't really need it. I hate the fact that there are certain people that sit in places that have a. That are in a position of power and that can control individuals that no longer play. It's like puppets. They. Oh, yeah. I know you want to be here so bad, so I'm controlling whether you can get it or not. That I would never get. I would never give anyone the satisfaction.

[Theo Von]

Power. Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

The power over me.

[Theo Von]

I don't care about your shit. Take it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I mean, listen, it's great, right? It's a great achievement, a great accomplishment, but come on. I have too much going on now still.

[Theo Von]

Right. Every day you have a lot of adoration and things that you get. You get, you know, to still be active.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Enough and admired in a sport that you enjoy. Who's that?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

When I put. When I put that hall of Fame jacket on myself.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah. Good for you.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I think there are 269 members in the hall of Fame, but that jacket right there, that's one on one.

[Theo Von]

Gang. Gang. That's the truth.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's one. That's one on one. There's only one of those, dude.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, but you started your own little hall.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Listen, the hall of Fame is this. It's unbelievable, people, you know, to be able to get there.

[Theo Von]

Oh, yeah. I'm not discrediting it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, me neither. But I'm just saying. But I don't like the power it holds over players that are retired because they're clamoring, trying to get in.

[Theo Von]

Because it's the same with, like, these Emmy Awards and Academy Awards for acting stuff. I respect that. It's a right. It's an award that people have admired and stuff. But if people out there like blowing directors and to get the award, it's like. Or. Or they're like having a, you know, go pity patter to them because they hope they vote for them.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

I don't like that.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

That's. That's not me. It never has been. Yeah.

[Theo Von]

In fact, take me off the ballot because I don't even want you to be able to tell me no. That's how I feel.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right. Right.

[Theo Von]

I don't even want you to be able to say he. You didn't get it.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

I never wanted it. You know what I'm saying? It's almost even a better take.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

With the future. Like, I know Shannon's going through his stuff right now.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

With the future, y' all show. Does it. Do you guys worry about that? Does it impair it?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Or do you feel Unc is going through his issues. Right. And whatnot. And Unk asked me to be a part of Nightcap, and I'm going to ride that wave because he asked me to. Come on. I'm not jumping ship because of his personal stuff that you handle whatever you need to handle. I'm always be here.

[Theo Von]

Yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

I'm going to be here. You know, if the ship go down, bitch, I'm going down with it.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

You know, so when the ship was going good, I was right here. Just because it's. Just because it's fucking Rocky. I ain't going nowhere. I'm not going. I'm not. I'm not going nowhere. So I'm gonna let Unc do what he needs to do. We gonna keep on filming. We're gonna keep on trucking. We're gonna keep our head down. He knows what he needs to do on his end, and I'm gonna make sure I take care of my end and do what I need to do and show up. That's it. That's it.

[Theo Von]

Yeah, man. You know. You know, reminds me of. Is when Bill Belichick. Remember when Trump people got on a Bill Belichick about Trump and what did he say about him? Remember when everybody was against Trump? Remember that shit?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

They still are.

[Theo Von]

That's a good point. They could. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, even for different reasons, man, how they're handling, like, some of The Middle east stuff. But he said my relationship with Donald Trump isn't political because the media was really getting on to him.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

He said my relationship with Donald Trump isn't political. Belichick said on the Dynasty. I knew him long before he got into politics. Donald is a friend, and I wrote a personal letter. Might have been it. But he just. He. He stood up for the fact that this is my friend.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Right.

[Theo Von]

This is my friend. And people can. There can be other stuff that he has going on in his life, but that isn't. I'm not gonna not be a friend then. Right. See, it just kind of reminds me of that. Anything else you wanted to talk about, Chad? Probably got a lot of good stuff. I feel like. Do you think we had a good conversation?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Sometimes it's hard, you know? Sometimes you have days where you're like, you got it. You got everything going. Everything's okay. Sometimes you have days where you're like, what's even going on? It's weird. Sometimes you get scared. Sometimes you don't.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Theo Von]

Or nervous about certain moments. I don't think black people get as nervous as white people do. Do you think that that's true?

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

It depends. It all depends on the atmosphere. All depends on the atmosphere and the situation. I mean, driving the car and the cops pull up behind you, we get nervous.

[Theo Von]

Yeah. And I'm like, hey, buddy.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah, you. Yeah, you guys. Not so much get nervous.

[Theo Von]

That might be a good point. So in different moments. But I think also a good thing that a lot of black folks have is white people. You could tell when they're nervous because you could see it in there. Yeah. We give a lot of too many clues away. So I think I got to start wearing some. Some. Some rouge or so. Or just like, I gotta start wearing some bronzer. Thank you so much.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

No, thank you.

[Theo Von]

Best of luck, man. I love your energy, bro. Thank you for being somebody that continues to entertain people. You know, it's just interesting to hear what your life has been like and how you kind of choose. Somehow you're able to remarkably choose to still just be yourself, no matter how kind of hectic things get.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Doesn't matter. No matter what. I always even keel at all times.

[Theo Von]

And you're even keel is even. Even kill navel, too, to a lot of people. You know, it's wild, but, yeah. That's who you are.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Yeah. Always been and would never change. I will always remain authentically myself at all times.

[Theo Von]

Well, it's been fun to watch, man on the field. And off and. Yeah. Thank you for your time.

[Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson]

Thank you, boss. I appreciate it, baby. Yes, sir. Setting on the breeze and I feel I'm falling like these leaves I must be cornerstone oh, but when I reach that ground I'll share this peace of mind I found I can feel it in my bones but it's going to take.