An Ohio-born Hall of Famer is set to purchase a small stake in the Cleveland Browns.
Charles Woodson plans to purchase a 0.1 percent stake in the Browns from the Haslam family, a league source told The Athletic on Thursday. Jimmy and Dee Haslam have owned the Browns since 2012.
Woodson, 48, has spent the last three seasons working as an analyst for Fox after an 18-year playing career that led to his induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. The sale is contingent upon Woodson agreeing to similar broadcasting restrictions to Raiders owner Tom Brady. Going forward, he will also remove his name, image and likeness on packaging for his wine and whiskey businesses, as it violates the NFL’s alcohol policy.
Given the skyrocketing value of NFL franchises, Woodson will own just a tiny stake, but he brings major name recognition in the football world.
Woodson is from Fremont, Ohio, about 80 miles west of Cleveland. He was Ohio’s Mr. Football in 1994 before embarking upon his Heisman Trophy-winning career at Michigan. He’s considered one of the greatest players in the rich history of Ohio high school football and is Ohio’s only Mr. Football enshrined in Canton’s Hall of Fame.
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