NFL Star Reveals Deeply Personal Reason Behind Failed Drug Test After Suspension
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Tennessee Titans cornerback Nazeeh Johnson opened up with an emotional, personal explanation after the NFL handed him a six-game suspension to start the season for violating its performance-enhancing drug policy.
Johnson explained that his positive test came from taking fertility medication while he and his wife, Gabrielle, were trying to have a baby. The 28-year-old laid it all out in an honest post on X on Friday.
“My wife and I were trying to conceive a child,” Johnson wrote. “We found out that I was infertile, and I took a fertility medication that was helping me try to conceive a baby. I was not aware that there was a substance in the medication that was on the banned list, and I tested positive for a PED.”
Johnson used the lesson to send a clear warning to his fellow players, urging everyone across the league to have every single medication and supplement cleared before use.
“Lesson to all NFL players and new players coming into the league: do not put anything in your body without following the process and getting approval beforehand,” he wrote.
Johnson Shares Family Heartbreak After Suspension
Johnson shared another heartbreaking detail in the post, revealing that he and his wife recently lost a baby in the middle of their fertility treatments.
“We lost our baby a few weeks ago, and this has been an incredibly difficult time for my wife and me,” Johnson wrote. “Fortunately, we have nine good eggs left, so we’re holding on to hope that we’ll be able to grow our family.”
“My wife and I were trying to conceive a child. We found out that I was infertile, and I took a fertility medication that was helping me try to conceive a baby. I was not aware that there was a substance in the medication that was on the banned list, and I tested positive for a…
— NIGHTJOHN (@JohnsonNazeeh) August 14, 2026
The NFL allows players to apply for therapeutic use exemptions for certain medications. Some fertility treatments contain substances that fall under the league’s banned drug list. Johnson did not say whether he sought an exemption before taking the medication.
The suspension will cost Johnson about $350,000 in game checks. The ban starts when the regular season begins. Until then, he can practice with the Titans and play in preseason games. After Aug. 30, he cannot return to team facilities until Oct. 19.
Johnson joined the Titans this offseason after spending four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He married Gabrielle in 2023 and later helped Kansas City win two Super Bowls. The former Marshall standout has also dealt with injuries in recent seasons.
Now, Johnson faces a difficult stretch all throughout as he serves the suspension and focuses on his family’s future.
