NFL Rushing Champion and Heisman Trophy Winner Ricky Williams Announces Memoir

Pre-Orders Available Now

August 4, 2026 - Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL Star, cannabis activist and astrologer Ricky Williams will release his memoir, The Long Run, on October 7, published by Listenin . Pre-orders available now at https://shorturl.at/zilrT .

In an exclusive first interview about the memoir with Men's Journal, Williams discusses why it took three attempts to write The Long Run, why he walked away from the NFL at the height of his career, living with social anxiety, and his lifelong search for purpose and identity beyond football. Read the full interview and view the exclusive cover reveal HERE .

Offering his most personal and revealing account to date, Williams reflects on football, fame, identity, public scrutiny, and the unconventional path that made him one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in American sports. From shattering 21 NCAA records and winning the 64th Heisman Trophy at the University of Texas to becoming one of the NFL's most electrifying running backs, Williams achieved extraordinary success while navigating relentless expectations. At the height of his career, he made one of the most shocking decisions in modern sports, walking away from the NFL in search of something more meaningful.

The Long Run tells the complete story behind that decision. The memoir traces Williams' rise from a gifted athlete in San Diego to one of the most celebrated prospects in the 1999 NFL Draft before revisiting his departure from the NFL in 2004. While ESPN's acclaimed 30 for 30 documentary Run Ricky Run explored that defining moment, The Long Runis Williams' most personal account yet, sharing the full story in his own words.

More than a sports memoir, The Long Run is an honest exploration of identity, mental health, purpose, spirituality, and what it means to redefine success after achieving everything the world tells you to want. Through candid reflection and hard-earned wisdom, Williams chronicles the journey of a record-setting college star, an embattled NFL running back, and the seeker who emerged after the game, revealing how he forged a life beyond fame, fortune, and football.

"For so much of my life, I've been searching and seeking. I finally reached a point where I felt like I'd found something worth sharing," shares Ricky. "This book is my chance to tell my story in my own words, not just what happened, but what it all meant. My hope is that readers walk away with the courage to define success for themselves, not by someone else's expectations."

Today, Williams is recognized not only for his accomplishments on the field, but also as an entrepreneur, cannabis advocate, astrologer, teacher, and self-taught software developer. He is the CEO and co-founder of Lila Labs , which develops astrology-based technology for self-discovery, and co-founder of Highsman , a cannabis and lifestyle brand encouraging people to "spark greatness."

Equal parts sports memoir and guide for those looking to find more meaning in life,The Long Run explores resilience, identity, mental health, public perception, and the courage required to define success on your own terms.

Ricky Williams On Socials

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About Ricky Williams

Searcher, astrologer, philosopher, football player, Ricky Williams is one of the most enigmatic and misunderstood figures American sports has ever produced. Always the fastest kid on the block, he grew up to shatter twenty-one NCAA records, clinch the Heisman Trophy, and become one of the most electric running backs of his generation. He also became a target, vilified for no greater crime than wanting to carve his own path in life. In 2004, with another positive marijuana test looming, he walked away from the NFL and multimillions for a seven-dollar-a-night tent in Australia. The press called him "America's Pothead." They said he was throwing his life away. Ricky knew he was saving it.

About Listenin

LISTENIN is a full-service creative publishing house dedicated to producing and releasing powerful, first-person books from people of note. We partner with actors, musicians, athletes, entrepreneurs, and cultural figures who have stories worth telling. We prioritize the audiobook experience, narrated by the authors themselves, as the cornerstone of our work. Each title is also available in print, but the spoken-word format is where our mission comes alive. Real voices. Real stories. Told directly by the people who lived them. From full memoirs to deep dives into defining periods, LISTENIN provides an end-to-end solution that includes ghostwriting, editorial, production, publishing, and global distribution. We operate with an author-first model featuring low recoupable costs and industry-leading royalty terms. This ensures our storytellers retain more control, more profits, and greater ownership of their narratives. LISTENIN produced Kevin Federline's memoir, You Thought You Knew, which reached the top of multiple bestseller lists. Our upcoming projects include memoirs from renowned celebrity bodyguard Anton Kalaydjian and acclaimed television producer Thom Beers. Founded by filmmaker and producer Jaren Hayman, LISTENIN is built on more than a decade of experience in documentary storytelling. Jaren has interviewed and shaped the life stories of hundreds of people across cultures, industries, and generations, bringing depth, empathy, and structure to deeply personal narratives. That same instinct for honest, human storytelling is at the heart of every project we take on.

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