When you’re out of the game and folks start asking about your past, it’s like flipping through an old playbook. All the memories, the nostalgia, it kicks in big time. That’s exactly what happened to former Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown when he got the chance to talk about his best friend and backfield partner, Ricky Williams, on an EssentiallySports exclusive with the Behind the Mask Podcast.

When the BTM host asked what people might not know about Williams, Ronnie didn’t hold back: “Salt to the Earth, man,” he said. They shared the backfield, sure. But for Ronnie, it was more than football. He admired how Ricky was always comfortable just being him, not the football star everyone expected. “He was cool being HIM outside of football,” Ronnie added. That easygoing, introspective vibe Ricky had? It was different, even groundbreaking. Especially at a time when being “focused” meant living and breathing only the game.

Ronnie went on to share that Williams’ approach to wellness, from yoga to a holistic lifestyle, was way ahead of its time. “Now you look at where the game’s gone… The mental health stuff… Or him being a yoga instructor.” Back then, that mindset wasn’t so mainstream. And Ricky’s choices? Well, the critics have their own agenda against them. But he held firm, proving that you could be a pro athlete without sacrificing self-care.

Ricky’s journey through suspensions and the infamous 2004 retirement for violating the league’s substance policy may have rocked Dolphins fans. But Ronnie saw the positive side. A guy prioritizing his health and beliefs. Williams didn’t regret that break from the game, once calling it the “most positive thing” he’s ever done, despite those 500 drug tests (yes, that’s five hundred in the span of just 11 seasons). For Ricky, his time away was less about “quitting” and more about finding peace, even if it clashed with the NFL’s playbook.

Now, if you are a Dolfan. We can understand the emotion. But one thing, even you’d agree to. That is, it’s hard to forget the dynamic duo Brown and Williams created on the field. From ‘05 through ‘08, they carried the load together, especially during that unforgettable 2008 season when Brown racked up 916 yards and ten touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Oh, boy, that was the Wildcat season, too. Ah! The memories… They shared not just stats but a brotherhood. One, built on understanding, mutual respect, and the kind of friendship that goes beyond the gridiron.

Ricky might have been a rebel to some, but to Ronnie, he was simply Ricky—the guy who was at his wedding, who embraced mindfulness before it was a trend, and who lived life on his terms. Now, in a league where mental health and self-care are valued more than ever, as Ronnie said during his ES exclusive chat on the BTM Podcast, he sees his friend as the guy who “beat everybody to the curve.”

Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have been Dawgs since day one

A brother backing a brother? Nothing sweeter. But what if we told you this wasn’t the first time Ronnie Brown backed Ricky Williams? Back in 2016, Ronnie had enough of folks giving Ricky heat over his “w**d issues” and decided to set the record straight.

“Ricky’s w**d problems were over-exaggerated,” Ronnie said, reminding people that there’s more to Ricky than a few drug tests. Most fans still think “marijuana” when they hear Ricky’s name. But Ronnie saw the real guy. He described Ricky as a “free spirit” who just followed his own rules.

“If he thinks a certain way, that’s how he’s gonna think,” Brown explained. Williams wasn’t just a rebel—he was one of the kindest guys out there, the kind who’d “probably give you the clothes off his back.” To Ronnie, Ricky’s choice wasn’t about breaking rules. It was just Ricky being Ricky. Yeah, the line he said in the exclusive chat on the podcast now as well. So, you know he’s being for real.

Back in the day, the media always made it sound like Ricky Williams gave up football just to smoke. So, that’s why someone had to quash that. And that someone? Yup, it was Ronnie. He called that a complete “misconception.” I mean, you cannot be after a guy who just wants to show his real side, right? That’s the only thing Brown was trying to convey.

And you know they had chemistry going on, on gridiron when the talks are so real. Word. There’s a reason they were the Wildcat Duo. Their chemistry was undeniable, a one-two punch that threw defenses off balance. In 2009, they each rushed for over 100 yards in the same game–twice. Together, they made the Phins’ backfield one of the league’s most feared. These two weren’t just teammates; they were dawgs from day one, on and off the field.

Want more such legends talking about ‘back-in-the-day’ mates and chemistry? Then stay tuned because EssentiallySports in partnership with the Behind the Mask Podcast has more such exclusives lined up for you.