Former NFL Player Arrested for Reckless Driving and Hit-and-Run

Robert Quinn, former defensive end for the Chicago Bears and record-holder for the team’s single-season sack record, was arrested in his home state of South Carolina early Friday morning. The 34-year-old faces charges of reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage. This marks Quinn’s second brush with the law since his NFL career ended.

At approximately 2 a.m., police responded to a collision report at a car dealership in North Charleston. Officers discovered Quinn in the passenger seat of a white Dodge Challenger, his vehicle’s reverse lights still on. A woman at the scene, who had reportedly met Quinn at a gentleman’s club where she worked, told police she had been called by the former NFL star to give him a ride.

Authorities say Quinn appeared disoriented, with visible facial injuries and slurred speech. When asked for his driver’s license, he was uncooperative. According to the police report, a maroon Ford F-150 registered to Quinn was located nearby with significant damage. Surveillance footage showed Quinn’s truck driving across an intersection, hitting a Honda Element, which was pushed into another F-150, ultimately colliding with a Chrysler 300. While the first impact wasn’t captured on camera, audio confirmed the crash.

Police later verified through city cameras that Quinn’s F-150 was responsible for the multi-car chain reaction. After being arrested, Quinn was booked into the Charleston County Jail around 7 a.m. and later released in the afternoon. His court date is set for February 27.

This is not the first time Quinn has been involved in legal trouble since leaving the NFL. In 2023, he was arrested in Summerville, SC, on charges including third-degree assault and battery, hit-and-run of an attended vehicle, and multiple counts of property damage from hit-and-runs. Court records indicate those charges are either pending or have been continued.

Quinn made a name for himself as a dominant pass rusher during his time with the Bears. After signing a five-year, $70 million contract with Chicago in 2020, he set a franchise record with 18.5 sacks in 2021, surpassing the legendary Richard Dent. However, Quinn’s NFL career has been quiet since 2022, when he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In the wake of this latest arrest, Quinn’s future remains uncertain as he faces both legal consequences and public scrutiny. As authorities continue their investigation, questions about his personal struggles and their impact on his once-promising football career are likely to grow.