Columbus Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. was arrested in Tarrant County, Texas, on Saturday and charged with DWI after police stopped him around 1:00 a.m. local time for allegedly failing to yield on a turn. He later failed a field sobriety test and was released on $1,000 bond.
Ginn, 41, apologized on Sunday and said in a post on X that he had made a serious mistake and took full responsibility for his actions. He said he understood the responsibility that comes with being a leader and role model, and said he would try to learn from the episode, make better decisions and earn back the trust of his players, the organization and fans.
The arrest came one day before the Aviators were set to play the Dallas Renegades in Texas, and offensive coordinator Todd Haley handled head coaching duties for Sunday’s game. Columbus lost 28-23. UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon said the league was gathering more information and that Haley would coach the team in Ginn’s absence.
Ginn entered the league with a profile built on speed and versatility. He was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft and played for six teams across a 14-year NFL career. His apology suggested he knows the pressure now goes beyond his own reputation; it extends to a locker room trying to move forward while the league sorts out what comes next.
