HOUSTON – Owen Hanson has lived a life that reads like a movie script, but it’s all real. From playing college football to partying with celebrities to eventually working for a powerful drug cartel, Owen was making a staggering amount of money before things went south; he ended up owing $4 million in debt to a dangerous drug cartel and the Feds already had their eyes on him.
Owen’s story is featured in the Amazon Prime docuseries Cocaine Quarterback, which chronicles his life story in three parts.
When his bad choices finally caught up with him, Owen was sentenced to 21 years in Federal prison. After serving nearly a decade of his sentence, he was released and given a second chance. He had no money, no job, and would be starting over completely.
Less than a year later, Owen now has a growing business selling protein ice cream bars -- something he created and started selling while still living in a small prison cell.
“If I can do it from a 6 x 8 prison cell, then no one should have an excuse,” said Owen about his determination to do something positive with his new lease on life.
Today, Owen also speaks with young athletes in schools to help them learn from his mistakes instead of following in his footsteps.
Watch the full Houston Life interview with Derrick Shore and Courtney Zavala to learn more about Owen’s remarkable comeback.