Terry Crews has crafted one of the most diverse careers in entertainment by successfully leaping from football to Hollywood. However, his time as an NFL defensive end during the 1990s was far from enjoyable, and he has continued to speak openly about the harsh realities and difficult experiences he endured in the league.
Terry Crews Explains Why He Compared the NFL to ‘Jail With Money’
Crews played football in the NFL between 1991 and 1996, appearing in 32 games, including one full season with Washington. He fulfilled his dream of playing professional football, but he has often spoken about the difficult environment he found himself in during his pro football career.
Crews previously opened up about the NFL’s culture during an interview with Arsenio Hall, where he discussed the infamous Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin bullying controversy involving the Miami Dolphins in 2013.
Crews drew from his own time in the league as he defended Martin’s decision to leave football, delivering the memorable line: “The NFL is like jail with money.”
That comment resurfaced during a recent appearance on Neal Brennan’s podcast, where Brennan asked Crews if he still stood by the statement.
“That’s right, jail with money,” Crews reiterated. “Same, I have said that, and I mean it. It’s changed a lot lately. There are things that have been happening, I think, because of social media, but pre-social media, the NFL was alphas on alphas.
“It’s all challenges. It’s all one-upmanship. It’s like being in prison. It’s like being hazed 24/7. The coaches are like they’re looking to replace you every second.”
In Crews’ early take about the brutal side of the NFL, he recalled being bullied by a coach who intentionally called him “Tyrone” throughout an entire offseason before publicly telling the team he would be cut. The humiliation left Crews angry enough to consider retaliating, but he said his faith in God and his wife’s support kept him from acting on those emotions.
It’s not like Crews only witnessed challenges from coaches; competition among teammates was also ruthless.
REDRAFT THE ENTIRE NFL: PFN’s FREE NFL Ultimate Redraft Simulator
“The other players are looking like you’re a challenge,” Crews told Brennan. “Like you’re on the same team, but you pray that whoever’s ahead of you gets hurt. That was the deal. Like, ‘Man, I really hope he breaks his leg today. I really hope my man gets his head busted.’”
Modern NFL players can build their own brands through platforms like YouTube and secure endorsement deals. It gives them financial opportunities beyond their team contracts.
However, players from the pre-social media era relied almost entirely on their NFL salaries, creating an environment where intense competition extended even to teammates. That is why Crews believes that culture has improved, and so he maintains that the NFL of his playing days was a much harsher place.
