It’s a perfect spring day in Miami, and CeeDee Lamb is wiping his drink from his face. Has he just crushed an intense off-season workout? Nope. I’ve caught him mid-sip with a one-liner. “You’re hilarious,” he says, chuckling. It’s a small moment, but one that sticks, and I can’t help but smile back at him.
We’re inside a stadium suite on the FIU campus, where CeeDee Lamb is about to shoot a campaign for BODYARMOR, the sports drink brand he’s been with for nearly six years.
When I walk into the room, the first thing we both do is comment on the temperature. I’m thrilled—it’s a frigid oasis in the middle of an unexpectedly warm day. CeeDee, dressed in a tank top and shorts, is less impressed. “They gotta warm it up in here,” he says. A shared laugh over our opposing weather tolerances—me being an icebox apologist, him a Louisiana–Texas hybrid used to warmth—immediately breaks the ice. He greets me with a hug and a disarming grin, one that could probably de-escalate a sideline argument in 0.3 seconds. You’d never guess this is the same guy who got meme’d mid-game for looking like he wanted to personally fight his quarterback.
“I’m getting old,” he jokes, settling in. He’s 26—a certified NFL veteran now—and with experience comes the pressure to keep evolving. In 2024, that meant training to add 15 pounds of muscle.
“It was kinda crazy,” he says. “It was fun too. Probably the biggest I’ve been in quite some time.”
That added bulk helped him bully defenses last season before his season-ending shoulder injury, but it also came at a cost. I ask him about the growing trend of athletes dropping insane money on body maintenance—Derrick Henry reportedly spends $240K annually, LeBron is rumored to spend $1.5 million.
Lamb crunches the numbers out loud. “I’m not going to lie. It’s a lot of money. Every two weeks is $50,000…there’s 52 weeks in a year…That’s your number.”
For those keeping track at home, that’s $50,000 times 26, or a cool $1.3 million annually.
It’s a good thing he signed that contract extension, huh?
His recovery routine sounds like a spa menu: ice baths, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, red light therapy, hyperbaric chambers. “The list could go on and on,” he says. “What I do for a living, it’s very physical, and some short weeks are more lethal than your regular seven-day schedule. So I’m just staying on top of that and always trying to replenish the body, stay hydrated, keep my muscle functioning up, and trying to get a lead on my opponent.”
It tracks. He’s leveling up—and so is BODYARMOR. The campaign he’s filming is called “Choose Better”, and it’s part of the brand’s first-ever national rebrand, a full-on refresh of both look and message. BODYARMOR’s always been about offering a better-for-you option—no artificial flavors, dyes, or sweeteners—but now it’s going bigger than ever. New packaging is hitting shelves by the end of the month, and the campaign is rolling out across national TV, streaming, and social with a squad of all-star athletes like Joe Burrow, Connor McDavid, Sabrina Ionescu, and CeeDee himself. For Lamb, that “choose better” mindset is about more than hydration.
“[It’s about] waking up and making the right decision at all times,” he says. “Just trusting your work, trusting in everything that you believe in. Did you make better decisions than you did the day before?”
That mindset goes beyond what’s in his bottle. His moral compass? “My grandpa—being that staple for the family…and ultimately bringing others with you to win.”
His groundedness doesn’t mean Lamb isn’t having fun, though. I ask him about the music he’s listening to these days, and the energy shifts.
“I love all Atlanta rappers for some reason,” he laughs. “I just found that out.” He runs through the lineup: Don Toliver, Cash Cobain, Lil Baby. But one project stands above the rest: A Gift & a Curse by Gunna. “Every song on there, I feel like I can relate to personally,” he says. “It’s a piece of art. He did his big one on that album.” His favorite track? “Turn Your Back.”
But really, it’s the full album, top to bottom. “I’ve met Gunna a couple times,” he adds. “I told him—you did that.”
He’s got other interests too—like fashion. His eyes light up when I mention his attendance at Paris Fashion Week.
“It was fire,” he says. “It’s a different world. You gotta get out of your comfort zone. Getting involved with the different people in the clothing, the brands, and just seeing how they’re coming out with different things, different types of materials, different types of looks. It’s intriguing.”
CeeDee’s not ready to walk a runway or collaborate on a collection yet, but the seed is clearly planted. “Right now, that’s not really the highest on my priority list, honestly. I do think about it and I do think that at some point I’m going to get involved in that—but right now I’ve got one thing on my mind and that’s wherever the Super Bowl’s at…That’s where I want to be.”
Still, style matters, and he doesn’t hesitate when I bring up the great debate: NFL chains vs. rapper chains. “I’m pretty biased, I like us over theirs,” Lamb says, tugging on his own.
He won’t drop his jeweler’s name—“He know who he is”—but he is very into the hardware. “I love jewelry,” he says. “I don’t have a favorite, but I do love jewelry. I love different pieces. I love different watches. I love different necklaces.”
And while his jewelry speaks volumes, Lamb’s looking to use his actual voice more, too.
“I’m really a gamer—I’m going to start streaming soon and really connect with my fans and chat it out with them, and if they have any questions, I’ll answer them myself instead of having people talk for me and kind of get things messed up. Having that platform to connect with my fans, set the record straight, and if there’s any confusion, I don’t got time for that.”
He’s seen how quickly narratives can spiral when athletes stay quiet. “I’ve been doing this for six years now. I’m a vet. And I’ve seen all the craziness that happens just off of speculation. So protecting myself, protecting my guys, and getting the job done.”
So, will we get a CeeDee x Kai Cenat stream soon?
“I’ll be there at some point,” he says, with a grin. “I’m available now, so whenever he’s ready.”
It’s all part of the CeeDee Lamb multiverse. But the best part about spending the afternoon with him? He’s real. The conversation flows, the jokes land, and the vibe is easy. On the field, CeeDee seems larger than life—off the field, though, he’s just… a guy.
When our time wraps, I step into the next room, where another outlet awaits its turn with CeeDee. “What were y’all even talking about in there?” someone asks, half-joking. “All we heard was laughing for like 30 minutes.”