🔹In a public statement dated April 16, 2020, American Addiction Centers (AAC) announced its partnership with the NFL Alumni Association:

“At a time when many people are struggling to mentally cope with COVID-19 and turning to substances to get by, the NFL Alumni Association (NFLA) has partnered with American Addiction Centers (AAC) to provide a lifeline to former players and their families…

‘As a former NFL player, I’ve watched fellow athletes struggle with substance use, and to now be in a position to help them means the world to me,’ said [Desert Hope CEO and former NFL player] Derek Price.”
— AAC Official Website, April 16, 2020

Many people don’t realize that American Addiction Centers (AAC), one of the largest addiction treatment providers in the U.S., has partnered with the NFL Alumni Association. According to AAC's own announcement, this partnership claims to offer treatment resources to former players and their families.

But here’s what they don’t say:

“While these endorsements give the illusion of credibility, they’re also a marketing tool designed to lure in vulnerable individuals...”

— Datura, The Dark Reality of Addiction Treatment, based on information from an interview with a trial attorney in Tampa representing the family of a client who died at AAC’s Florida facility.

This quote from Datura's exposé captures the concern — these high-profile connections can create a false sense of trust in AAC. When celebrities like Joe Namath or the NFL brand itself are linked with AAC, people may mistakenly believe these treatment centers are not just endorsed, but regulated, ethical, and safe.

The reality? AAC has faced multiple lawsuits over patient neglect, misleading marketing, and predatory practices. The endorsement of such a provider by a trusted American institution like the NFL blurs the line between healthcare and entertainment-driven business. It can mislead families at their most desperate moments.

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/the-nfl-stress-and-substance-use

🔹 From a Second Official AAC Article (Updated July 19, 2024):

“NFL players, like all professional athletes, are under a tremendous amount of pressure… unfortunately for some players, an inevitable desire to relieve the stress through substance use.”

“The pressure that professional athletes have is often the same as non-professional athletes... However, NFL players have the added pressure of knowing that they have ‘made it’ to what is considered an elite organization... The heat and pressure underneath them to perform, to succeed, and to not get cut, is driving a portion of them to use alcohol and/or recreational drugs.”

“To have the pressure of trying to hold onto a ‘dream-come-true’ and facing challenges that most people face in their personal lives can create the stress that leads to not always making decisions that are in their best interests. For example, self-medicating by abusing illicit drugs, alcohol, or even prescriptions.”
— The NFL, Stress, and Substance Use

These messages, carefully wrapped in empathy and elite branding, raise a serious question: Are these partnerships about care — or about conversion?

🔍 Why does this matter?
➤People in crisis deserve care, not branding. They deserve transparency, not celebrity smoke screens. AAC has faced lawsuits and public criticism for alleged neglect, aggressive marketing tactics, and lack of transparency.

📢 Let’s demand accountability. Urge the NFL and its alumni association to rethink their endorsements and prioritize partnerships with ethical, community-centered treatment providers.

📢 What We're Asking:
➤We urge the NFL Alumni Association and affiliated figures to reassess their partnerships with providers like AAC and ensure any public endorsements are backed by independent, ethical, and patient-first standards of care — not marketing metrics.

🖋️ Sign and share this petition if you believe:
➤Athletes deserve real care, not corporate branding.
➤The public deserves transparency in addiction treatment.
➤Treatment centers must be held accountable — no matter who endorses them.
➤Let’s demand clarity and compassion, not just celebrity and convenience.