Aside from their on-field abilities, NFL players are also subject to intense examination of their personal lives. Despite their status as athletes, they are also considered public figures, constantly under the scrutiny of the public.
NFL Players Charged With Criminal Activities
1. Kellen Winslow II
Kellen Winslow II, the son of legendary NFL tight end Kellen Winslow, didn’t meet the lofty standards set by his father. However, his lack of success can largely be attributed to his actions outside of the game.
Winslow II has a history of being embroiled in various legal issues, such as assault, burglary, and drug possession. However, the most severe offense for which he was found guilty was rape, resulting in a 14-year incarceration.
2. Michael Vick
Michael Vick gained a reputation as one of the greatest NFL players in history due to his exceptional rushing abilities. He was the first quarterback to exceed 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. However, his participation in a dog fighting operation will forever be etched in people’s memories.
Bad Newz Kennels was taken down due to a probe into dog-fighting activities, resulting in several arrests, including that of Michael Vick. He was found to have provided financial support for individuals to bet on the fights and was convicted of conspiracy, serving close to two years behind bars.
3. Rae Carruth
In 1997, the Carolina Panthers chose Rae Carruth as their top pick in the NFL Draft due to his promising skills as a quarterback. He earned a spot on the All-Rookie team in his debut season, but unfortunately suffered an injury in 1998, his second year.
In 1999, Cherica Adams, who was carrying Carruth’s child and eight months pregnant, was shot four times. Although the baby survived, Adams sadly passed away approximately one month later. Carruth was convicted of conspiring to commit murder and spent 19 years in prison before being released in 2018.
4. Aaron Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez had a successful beginning with the New England Patriots, having gained recognition during his college years. However, his struggles ultimately led to the downfall of his football career and his life.
Hernandez engaged in numerous altercations and participated in gang-related events and violent incidents. In 2013, he faced a first-degree murder charge for the death of Odin Loyd, a semi-professional athlete who was in a relationship with Hernandez’s fiancée’s sister.
Despite being sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole, he ultimately took his own life while incarcerated.
5. OJ Simpson
The Buffalo Bills’ OJ Simpson became the inaugural running back in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in one season.
While he was revered as an NFL icon for his achievements on the football field, he gained even more notoriety for his legal troubles, particularly his highly-publicized murder case, which captivated audiences worldwide.
Simpson faced a high-profile murder trial that gained the nickname The Trial of the Century. In a highly contentious decision, he was ultimately acquitted.
Afterward, he was implicated in various other illegal activities like possessing drugs and committing money laundering. Eventually, he was found guilty of armed robbery and abduction. He served nine years in jail before being granted parole.
6. Ray Rice
Ray Rice’s attack on his then-fiance Janay Palmer is almost as well-known in the NFL as the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial. It is important to note that this was not a “domestic” incident.
The NFL and the Baltimore Ravens would have potentially ignored and not punished the cruel, sadistic assault if they had their way. However, Rice’s actions, including the vicious punch that rendered Palmer unconscious and his lack of concern for her safety, were recorded on video and brought to light.
7. Robert Rozier
According to Sportscasting, Robert Rozier, a defensive end who may not be as well-known as O.J. Simpson or Ray Rice, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979.
Despite being selected in the ninth round, Rozier swiftly climbed the depth chart and appeared in six games at the beginning of the 1979 season.
However, just as his career was about to take flight, he was let go because of his drug addiction (according to KTAR). This marked the beginning of a decline, leading to a string of strange killings that ultimately exposed Rozier as a serial murderer.
8. Jovan Belcher
In 2009, Jovan Belcher, a linebacker who was not selected in the draft, joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent. He then played a significant role on defense for the following three years.
Despite his successful career in the field, his personal life was fraught with difficulties. He and his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins often argued, particularly about the well-being of their newborn daughter Zoey.
According to USA Today, in the early hours of December 1, 2012, Belcher returned to his residence following a night of heavy drinking. In the presence of his mother, who was assisting with the baby, Belcher retrieved a firearm and fatally shot Perkins.
Following his multiple shots at Perkins, Belcher proceeded to drive to the Chiefs’ training facility where he confronted the team’s general manager, Scott Pioli, and head coach, Romeo Crennel.
Pioli and Crennel attempted to convince Perkins to give up his gun and surrender, but Belcher opted to take his own life in their presence by shooting himself in the head. Perkins was just 22 years old at the time of her death, leaving their three-month-old daughter Zoey as a parentless child.
9. Dave Meggett
Despite their wealth and fame, one would assume that NFL players have no trouble attracting women. However, for certain wrongdoers, this is still not satisfying enough.
This could possibly clarify why Dave Meggett, a player for the New York Giants and New England Patriots, with a decade of experience, two Pro Bowl appearances, and a Super Bowl win under his belt, was ultimately found guilty of being a serial rapist.
According to SB Nation, Meggett’s legal troubles began in 1990 when he was first charged with a sex crime. Throughout his playing career and beyond, he faced numerous accusations and arrests. In 1997, he was arrested for assaulting a sex worker. In 2001 and 2006, he faced additional assault charges.
Meggett was arrested at least seven times for assault, solicitation, and rape. Each time, he either received probation or settled out of court. However, in 2010, he was finally convicted of rape and sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to ESPN.
10. Nate Webster
According to Fox, Nate Webster was a professional football player in the NFL for nine years, during which he was a member of the Bucs, Bengals, and Broncos teams.
ABC Cincinnati reports that he was arrested while playing for the Bengals for “sex offenses against a Bengals coach’s underage daughter.”
In 2012, Webster was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and was given a 10-year prison term.
But his sentence was reduced because his lawyers argued that he became religious while in prison. A former teammate who had become a pastor helped him with this. His wife spoke well of him in court, too. So, he was released in May 2021.
