I’m not even sure how I got here. One second I was watching the Aviators practice in their neon green jerseys, and the next second I’m staring at my phone like it’s a bomb about to go off, reading that Ted Ginn Jr. is being charged with DWI in Texas. The man who once made NFL defensive backs look like they were sprinting from a burning building? Now he’s sipping whiskey on a Saturday night and running the wrong color line? I’m sitting here with my mouth agape, left hand pressed against the side of my skull because this feels like one of those scenes in *Heat* where Al Pacino’s character just walked into a bank and said “I’m gonna need that money now.” Except this time, it’s not a bank—it’s a sobriety checkpoint.
Let me tell you something: Ted Ginn Jr. is not the first NFL player to run afoul of the law. Hell, he’s not even the first NFL coach to do so. But what makes this story feel like it was pulled straight out of *Breaking Bad* is how it all lines up. First, you have a guy who once had the kind of speed that made defenders think they were chasing a ghost. Then you’ve got him transitioning into coaching, trying to find a new purpose after his playing days. And now? Now he’s being booked by a sheriff’s department in Texas like he just walked off a plane from some 80s crime drama. This is not how legends are supposed to end.
I said last week that the NFL was going through a weird phase where it felt like every former player was either getting arrested or making a reality show. And here we are—Ted Ginn Jr., who once lit up the NFL with his electrifying returns and sharp route running, now in the same category as guys like Joe Johnson (the one from Atlanta, not the NBA) and Terrell Owens when they were doing their best *Godfather* impressions.
Let’s get this straight: Ted Ginn Jr. was drafted ninth overall by the Dolphins in 2007. That’s right—ninth. In a class that included guys like JaMarcus Russell (who, let me remind you, had a career that looked more like a *Casino* heist gone wrong). Ginn wasn’t just good—he was special. He could make a cornerback look like they were sprinting in slow motion on the final leg of a 40-yard dash. And for those who think this is just another case of an athlete falling off the wagon, I’ve got news for you: Ginn has always been a bit of a wild card. Whether it was his off-field antics or his tendency to take big hits like a man who’d rather die than let someone else take credit, he was never the guy you could predict.
Now he’s coaching in the UFL, which is basically the NFL’s cousin that nobody invited to the party. But even there, Ginn was supposed to be a stabilizing force—a guy with experience on both sides of the ball who could bring some credibility to a league that’s still trying to figure out if it wants to be taken seriously.
But here we are. A DWI charge in Texas? That’s not just an unfortunate footnote—it’s a full-blown plot twist that makes you wonder what kind of story arc Ginn is currently on. Is this the *Godfather* part where he loses everything because of his own recklessness? Or is it more like *The Wire*, where one bad decision unravels years of hard work?
I mean, come on—Ginn had a chance to be a Hall of Fame return specialist. He even won a Super Bowl ring with the Saints in 2010. And yet, here we are, talking about him like he’s some has-been who got too comfortable with his old life.
Let me tell you something else: I don’t care if Ginn is sorry or if he posted a $1,000 bond. That doesn’t erase the fact that this is another chapter in a story where NFL players are being held to a different standard when it comes to off-field behavior. And honestly? I’m tired of hearing about how “they’re just people” or “everyone makes mistakes.” Yeah, everyone makes mistakes—but not every mistake gets you charged with DWI by the Euless Police Department.
This is the same kind of thing that happened to guys like Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson. It’s the same kind of thing that got a guy like Antonio Brown released from the NFL after a string of off-field issues. And yet, here we are—Ted Ginn Jr., who once had the world at his feet, now being booked for a DWI in Tarrant County.
I don’t want to be too harsh. I mean, sure, Ginn apologized and took responsibility. But that doesn’t make it any less disappointing. Because when you’re in the NFL, you’re not just playing football—you’re living under a microscope. And if you’re going to be a role model for kids, you better be walking the walk.
But here’s what I don’t get: Why does this always happen to guys who were once so good? Is it because they were too fast? Too cocky? Or is it just that once you leave the field, the rules change and suddenly you’re not a hero anymore—you’re just another guy who made a bad decision.
And honestly? I think Ginn’s story is more than just one mistake. It’s a cautionary tale about what happens when athletes transition into coaching or management roles without proper guidance. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that not every NFL player knows how to handle life after football.
And now? Now he’s got Todd Haley stepping in as interim coach for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Renegades. I mean, Todd Haley—he of the three Super Bowl rings and the guy who once took a team from 2-14 to 10-6 in one season. But let’s be real: this isn’t just about finding someone to run the Aviators—it’s about damage control.
Because when you’re Ginn, you’re not just representing yourself—you’re representing every former NFL player who’s trying to make it work after their playing days are over. And if you’re going to be a coach in the UFL, or even a front-office guy somewhere else, then you better be ready for the scrutiny that comes with it.
This is why I’ve always said that when it comes to athletes turning into coaches or front-office guys, they need to have more than just talent. They need to have character—and not just the kind that gets them drafted in the first round. They need to have the kind of character that doesn’t get them charged with DWI in Texas.
Because let me tell you something: When you’re a former NFL player and you’re coaching in the UFL, people are watching. People want to see if you can make it work. And when you screw up—when you get arrested for a DWI—you don’t just hurt your own chances. You hurt the chances of everyone else who’s trying to make it through this transition.
And I’m not saying that Ginn is doomed or that he’s not going to be fine. But I am saying that this is another reminder that when you’re in the public eye, one bad decision can unravel everything. And if you’re going to be a coach or a front-office guy, then you better be ready for that.
Because let me tell you something: If Ted Ginn Jr. wants to make it back to the NFL or even find success in coaching, he’s going to need more than just an apology. He’s going to need to prove—over and over again—that he can handle the pressure of being a role model for kids who look up to him.
And if that doesn’t happen? Well, then we’re looking at another cautionary tale. One where the guy who once had everything ends up with nothing because he made one bad decision on a Saturday night in Texas.