Browns ownership: Charles Woodson backs out for another life goal

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CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 10, 2019: Former NFL cornerback Charles Woodson on the field prior to a game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns on November 10, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 19-16. (Photo by: 2019 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

In an “only the Cleveland Browns story,” that may not be unique to the team, Charles Woodson says he decided not to buy a portion of the team. In May of 2025, reports came out that Woodson, an Ohio native despite most knowing him from his days at Michigan and his Hall of Fame NFL career, had agreed to buy a minority stake of the team.

It was believed to be a very small portion of the team that would allow Woodson to dip his toes into that side of the football business and allow the Browns to capitalize on his name value.

The team announced Woodson’s purchase as the first minority owner addition during Jimmy Haslem’s time owning the team. The ownership group even made a statement in the press release:

“Charles has left an incredible legacy on the field, forever engraving himself as one of the greatest collegiate and NFL players of all time, but the work he’s continued to do off the field and his entrepreneurial spirit emphasized what a great fit he is for our organization,” said Cleveland Browns Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “As he is an Ohio native, we’re so thrilled to have Charles on board as a limited partner of the Cleveland Browns because he knows how much football means to this community. We know he will be instrumental in helping shape the future of the club through his insight and leadership and we are looking forward to having him as part of our ownership group.”

As did Woodson:

“Growing up in Fremont, Ohio, it was a dream come true to play in the National Football League. In my wildest childhood dreams, I never considered the opportunity to become a limited partner of an NFL team, let alone the Cleveland Browns in my home state of Ohio. It is among my greatest honors to join the Haslam and Johnson families and the entire Haslam Sports Group to become a limited partner of the Cleveland Browns, one of the NFL’s most storied franchises,” said Woodson. “Over the last year, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the leadership team at the Browns and I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of the bright future for this team and to help be a resource for the entire organization as well as the NFL. I want to thank Dee and Jimmy Haslam for providing me this amazing opportunity and Derrick Heggans for presenting this rare opportunity to me and facilitating the process.”

Like Tom Brady, Woodson is a part of the media that covers the NFL and was going to have to follow similar rules as the Las Vegas Raiders minority owner. In the initial report from Dianna Russini, there was also a little note about Woodson having to remove his name and image from his liquor company. Given that Woodson had spent “the last year” in the process and the team made the announcement, it seemed like that decision had already been made.

Then the 2025 season kicked off, and there was not a sign of Woodson anywhere. At one point, it was noticed that his name was not on the team’s website listing of partners/owners. The article with the above quotes is still there, however, announcing Woodson’s purchase.

During Super Bowl Week, Woodson shared with Front Office Sports that he chose his liquor brand over owning the Browns:

EXCLUSIVE: Charles Woodson passed up ownership in the Cleveland Browns to launch his own liquor brand, he tells FOS.

Woodson would've acquired a 0.1% minority stake in the franchise.

Story by @sportsrapport

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 5, 2026

While an interesting decision, it is notable that the team’s comment to Front Office Sports provided no more details (“We respect the decision by Charles and wish him well.”) and the initial announcement is still live on the team’s website. Did something happen between Woodson saying something was “among my greatest honors” and actually closing the deal? Did Woodson look to rebrand or sell his liquor company and have a huge change of heart? Did the Haslems decide they didn’t really want a minority partner despite the year-long process that had taken place?

We may never have more information than that which was provided by Woodson, but there is closure to his once seemingly official purchase of a stake in the Cleveland Browns.

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