Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL, revealed earlier this month that he spent the first two years of his career living in the Cincinnati Bengals’ stadium.
The admission came while chatting on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast with host and NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.
Johnson, who was drafted by the Bengals in 2001, said the decision came from him wanting to save money during his early years in the league.
“You gotta remember, I stayed at the stadium the first two years because I didn’t want to spend no money,” Johnson said, per CNN.
“What’s the point? Why are you telling me to go rent a house, go buy a house, or go rent a condo when everything I need is right here in the facility?” he added. “Showers, cafeteria, TV, couch, gaming system. What’s the point? I was so locked in. It wasn’t about having my own space.”
Johnson went on to explain how this grounded approach helped to lay the foundation for his successful career, saying he needed that first year to get up to speed with the rest of the NFL, and then got into a “rhythm” in his second season.
The commitment paid off, as Johnson would go on to make six Pro Bowls and capture almost every Bengals receiving record during his career.
He became known for his signature touchdown celebrations, one of which featured him famously “putting” the football with a pylon and fist-pumping, in an ode to Tiger Woods.
Johnson legally changed his last name to “Ochocinco” in 2008, referencing his 85 jersey number, but later changed it back to “Johnson” in 2012.
He told Sharpe on the podcast that coach Marvin Lewis eventually convinced him to move out of the stadium and get his own place, but that he never bought expensive jewelry or got caught up in spending money unwisely, like other NFL players sometimes do.
“There is nothing I can buy that’s bigger than my name alone,” he stated, estimating that he was able to save over 80% of his career salary.
“Everybody is caught up in image, and looking a certain way, being rich. It’s pointless,” Johnson said.
