Imprisoned ex-NFL star Henry Ruggs is said to be eyeing a return to football following his fatal DUI crash in 2021 which killed a woman and her dog.
In August 2023, the wide receiver accepted a plea deal for three-to-10 years in prison, though he could be eligible for parole as early as August 2026, according to Nevada Department of Corrections records.
And while a return to the NFL is far from certain, Ruggs’ former Raiders teammate, Josh Jacobs, shared that the former Alabama standout is staying in shape while in prison.
‘He’s positive about everything. He’s training,’ Jacobs, who revealed he still keeps in touch with the 26-year-old Ruggs, told The Pivot.
‘They let him train and things like that, so I’m like, ‘When you come out, man, I don’t know if you will get a chance.’ I’ve been talking to some people for him. They’ve been saying a couple of teams are willing to give him a chance.
‘I’m like, ‘When you get that chance, man, you better not ever – don’t look back, and prove to yourself and prove to everybody that one decision don’t define you and who you are as a man.”
Henry Ruggs had a blood-alcohol level twice legal limit before the fatal crash had taken place
Ruggs was sentenced to three-to-10 years in prison in August 2023, but could get out on parole as early as next year
His former teammate, Josh Jacobs, said in a new interview that Ruggs is training in prison
Ruggs was allegedly driving at 156mph seconds before the accident, and ultimately slammed into the car of victim Tina Tintor at 127mph. A coroner later revealed that Tintor and her dog burned to death.
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The speed limit in the area was 45mph and Ruggs had a blood-alcohol level twice legal limit when he crashed at around 3:30am, cops said.
Ruggs, who had been facing 50 years behind bars, ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
‘He’s a good kid,’ Jacobs continued. ‘He’s never been in trouble. I’ve never seen him do nothing crazy. He was just one of them guys that have a very, very unfortunate situation and something happened, a decision that he made.
‘That’s what hurt me the most. Man, he isn’t somebody you would look at and be like, ‘Bro, you deserved this to happen to you.”
Ruggs a 2020 first-round pick out of Alabama, posted 50 catches for 921 yards and four touchdowns across 20 games before the accident.
Tina Tintor, 23,’died from thermal injuries due to a motor vehicle collision’ in November 2021
A Chevrolet Corvette owned by then-Raiders wide receiver Ruggs III is shown on a flatbed truck after a fatal crash on South Rainbow Boulevard on November 2, 2021
Following the crash, he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and cut by the Raiders.
However, there is some precedent for Ruggs potentially coming back to the NFL, as former receiver Donte Stallworth killed a pedestrian in a 2009 DUI before ultimately returning to the league.
He was suspended the entirety of the 2009 season and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Stallworth would go on to play three more seasons in the league following his crash.