Columbus Aviators Face Turmoil as Ted Ginn Jr. Arrested Before Sunday Clash

Former NFL wide receiver and the head coach of the Columbus Aviators, Ted Ginn Jr. was arrested a day before the team's big game in Dallas.

Columbus Aviators Face Turmoil as Ted Ginn Jr. Arrested Before Sunday Clash

Columbus Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. (Image via ESPN)

In Short
  • Ted Ginn Jr. was arrested for DUI just hours before the Columbus Aviators' game against the Dallas Renegades.
  • The Aviators appointed Ginn as their first head coach in December 2025 after his retirement from the NFL.
  • Offensive coordinator Todd Haley will serve as interim head coach for the Aviators during Ginn's absence.

It has been a disastrous few weeks for the Columbus Aviators. Following two straight defeats to kick off the franchise’s legacy, they received terrible news just hours before the week three clash against the Dallas Renegades. According to reports, Ted Ginn Jr., whom the club appointed as its first-ever head coach, was arrested by the police.

The details about Ginn Jr.’s arrest are still fuzzy at the moment. On Saturday, the Euless Police Department cuffed and booked him into the Tarrant County jail under the name Theodore Ginn.

Ginn, 41, played 14 seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver. Drafted ninth overall by the Miami Dolphins in 2007, Ginn represented the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers (in two spells), Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears.

In 193 games, Ginn caught 412 passes for 5742 yards (13.9 yards per catch) and 33 touchdowns. As a returner, he racked up more than 8000 yards and 7 total touchdowns.

Why did the police arrest Ted Ginn Jr.?

The story is developing. That said, a Dallas Morning News report noted that cops stopped Ginn around 12:58 a.m. for traffic violations at 100 West Euless Boulevard. Officers conducted a routine DWI investigation.

Columbus Aviators Face Turmoil as Ted Ginn Jr. Arrested Before Sunday Clash
Ted Ginn Jr. played three NFL seasons for the New Orleans Saints (Image via ESPN)

DMN did not mention the details of the result, but Ginn was arrested shortly after and subsequently taken to the Tarrant County jail. He was later released.

The Columbus Aviators appointed Ted Ginn Jr. as head coach ahead of this season

Ginn retired from pro football in 2021. It’s unclear what he was doing for the next four years until the Columbus Aviators appointed the Ohio State alum as the club’s first head coach in December 2025.

Experts did not expect the Aviators to hit the ground running from week one. In their first-ever game, the Aviators faced off against fellow newcomers, the Orlando Storm. Quarterback Jack Plummer, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, threw for 240 yards and one touchdown, while running back Jashaun Corbin rushed for 68 yards and scored two touchdowns, securing a 23-16 victory.

In week two, they welcomed defending champions, the DC Defenders, at the Historic Crew Stadium. DC proved an even tougher opponent than Orlando, scoring 44 points.

Per the UFL schedule, the Aviators are supposed to play against the Dallas Renegades on Sunday, April 12, at Frisco’s Toyota Stadium. Even though Ginn Jr. is no longer in police custody, he won’t be taking charge of the Aviators in week three. Instead, the club has decided to let offensive coordinator Todd Haley handle the coaching gig for the time being.

The name Todd Haley should jog the memories of NFL fans across the country, especially in Pittsburgh. Haley, 59, coached the Steelers’ offense from 2012 to 2017. He has head coaching experience in the UFL. Previously, he managed the Memphis Showboats, and before that, he coached the Tampa Bay Bandits of the now-defunct USFL.

Staying in Dallas, the Dallas Cowboys‘ safety, Markquese Bell, was arrested on Friday. The police uncovered less than 2 ounces of marijuana and a THC electronic cigarette from Bell’s car. Bell went undrafted in 2022 and has been with the Cowboys ever since. He has racked up 142 combined tackles, 4 TFLs, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.

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