Ricky Watters now helping athletes through CBD company
SAN FRANCISCO (BVM) – Ricky Watters may be one of the more forgotten great running backs in NFL history. The five-time Pro Bowler is near the top in a number of career statistics, won a Super Bowl and played for three of the most-recognized franchises in the NFL, yet his name doesn’t tend to come up in conversations of greatest running backs of his era like Edgerrin James, Emmitt Smith or Marshall Faulk.
Looking at the numbers, Watters should be remembered as one of the greatest dual-threat running backs of all time, but his legacy may go beyond the gridiron with his new business venture. The former running back launched his Impact Wellness company which takes a more holistic approach to managing pain and mental wellness through CBD products after he suffered through pain and mental health issues following his NFL career. It’s through this company that Watters hopes to help other athletes coming up and those retired from their sports and change the way people, especially in athletics, perceive CBD across the country.
Early life and high school football
Watters was adopted as an infant by his parents Jim and Mary. Growing up in Harrisonburg, Pennsylvania, Watters quickly became known for his fantastic play on the gridiron even when he was just playing peewee ball at age 8.
By the time he hit high school, Watters was a certified star as the all-purpose quarterback for Bishop McDevitt High School. Watters helped the Crusaders win a state championship and was the top recruit in the nation in the Class of 1987. His No. 12 jersey also became the first number ever retired in the program’s history.
With his choice of programs to choose from, Watters committed to the University of Notre Dame and head coach Lou Holtz.
Notre Dame
During his time at Notre Dame, Watters’ athleticism found him lined up all over the field from running back to wide receiver and he even returned punts and kicks. Notre Dame was a powerhouse by the time Watters made it to campus and he helped the Fighting Irish win the 1988 national championship as a sophomore and finish No. 2 in the country as a junior in 1989.
Watters played all four years in South Bend, compiling 2,424 yards from scrimmage (1,814 rushing, 610 receiving) and scoring 26 total touchdowns (21 rushing, three punt returns and two receiving). Following his senior season in 1990, Watters declared for the 1991 NFL Draft where he was selected in the second round, No. 45 overall, by the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL career
With the 49ers, Ricky “Running” Watters lived up to his nickname and then some. During his three years in San Francisco, Watters made the Pro Bowl all three seasons while rushing for over 1,000 yards as a rookie. Watters played exceptionally well during his time in the Bay, rushing for 2,840 yards, catching 140 passes for 1,450 yards and scoring 33 touchdowns (25 rushing, eight receiving). He also scored three touchdowns in the 49ers’ Super Bowl XXIX victory.
In 1995, Watters left the 49ers to join his home state Philadelphia Eagles. The running back picked up where he left off earning consecutive Pro Bowl spots over his first two seasons with the team, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each campaign. Though he missed the Pro Bowl his third season, he again ran for over 1,000 yards and finished his time in Philly with 3,794 rushing yards, 161 receptions for 1,318 receiving yards and 32 total touchdowns.
Despite his strong play in the City of Brotherly Love, Watters again left for greener pastures, this time joining the Seattle Seahawks. Watters played his final four NFL seasons with Seattle, rushing for 4,009 yards, catching 166 passes for 1,480 yards and scoring 26 total touchdowns. During his final season in 2001, injuries limited Watters to just five games and four starts and he retired in 2002.
Watters finished his career with 14,891 total yards, 10,643 rushing and 4,248 receiving, while scoring 91 total touchdowns. He is one of 31 players in NFL history to rush for over 10,000 yards and ranks No. 27 in yards from scrimmage in league history as well.
10,643 rushing yards.
4,248 receiving yards.Happy birthday to one of the star dual-threat RBs of the 90s, @RickyWatters! pic.twitter.com/S2Zw2s3gGy
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) April 7, 2021
Retirement
Following his retirement from football, Watters laid low for a while, spending time with his wife Catherina and their children, Ricky Jr. and Shane. After working mostly as a motivational speaker through his retirement years, Watters took a position as head football coach of Oak Ridge Academy in Orlando, Florida, where he would only coach for a couple of weeks before resigning. Following his time at Oak Ridge, the family moved back to San Francisco where Watters worked as a color analyst for FOX Sports and NBC.
After the loss of his former teammate Kevin Turner to ALS and having seen numerous former players suffering through the injuries and mental health struggles that plague former NFL players through his wife’s work as an attorney specializing in representing players in disability claims, Watters decided to try and do something about it. With these inspirations and seeing the success that medical marijuana and CBD had on his own life, Watters decided to launch Impact Wellness in 2019 and hasn’t looked back.
If you are one of the many people who suffer from pain like I did please reach out. Our mission is to offer options to assist each and everyone suffering from physical pain. #knowpain #natural #wellnesschallenge https://t.co/Faayxp15oj pic.twitter.com/TZAamze4u3
— Impact Wellness (@ImpactHeals) November 3, 2022
Over the past few years, Watters has also seen his name reemerge in Hall of Fame discussions after he was not selected during his first round of nominations in the mid-2000s. In 2020 and 2022, Watters was named a semifinalist for placement into the Hall. As he awaits his Hall of Fame destiny, Watters will continue to try to change the game for his fellow former players off the field.
The 28 Modern-Era Player Semifinalists for the @ProFootballHOF Class of 2023. #PFHOF23 pic.twitter.com/iLbIRdbxak
— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2022
