Columbus Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. was arrested Saturday in Tarrant County, Texas, on a charge of driving while intoxicated. The Euless Police Department made the arrest and booked Ginn around 3:30 p.m. CT, according to a Tarrant County Sheriff's Office spokesperson who confirmed the arrest to ABC 6 reporter Kierstin Lindkvist.
Ginn posted a $1,000 bond and has been released.
Todd Haley to Serve as Interim Head Coach Sunday
The arrest came less than 24 hours before the Aviators' Week 3 road game against the Dallas Renegades, scheduled for noon CT Sunday.
UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon confirmed the league is aware of the situation in a statement to ABC 6.
"We are aware of an incident involving Head Coach Ted Ginn Jr. over the weekend," Brandon said. He added that offensive coordinator Todd Haley will handle head coaching duties for Sunday's game.
Haley has decades of NFL coaching experience. He served as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009 to 2011 and was the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. He also coached as head coach of the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits and Memphis Showboats before joining the Aviators staff ahead of the 2026 season.
No additional details about the circumstances of the arrest have been released. The UFL said it is gathering more information.
Aviators Enter Week 3 at 0-2
Columbus enters Sunday's game against Dallas at 0-2 in its inaugural season. The Aviators lost at Orlando in Week 1 and fell to the DC Defenders 41-20 in their home opener at Historic Crew Stadium in Week 2.
The Renegades are led by head coach Rick Neuheisel and quarterback Luis Perez, who returns for his fourth season in Dallas.
Ginn's Background
Ted Ginn Jr. was named the first head coach in Aviators franchise history on Dec. 17, 2025. He had no prior head coaching experience at any level.
Ginn played college football at Ohio State from 2004 to 2006. He was a three-time first-team All-American and holds the Big Ten record for career punt return touchdowns with six. He returned the opening kickoff of the 2007 BCS National Championship Game for a touchdown.
The Miami Dolphins selected Ginn with the ninth pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played 14 seasons in the NFL for six teams — the Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears. He finished his career with 412 receptions for 5,742 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns across 193 games.
After retiring from the NFL following the 2020 season, Ginn operated a youth training program called Ginn Elite and assisted at Glenville High School in Cleveland under his father, Ted Ginn Sr.
What Comes Next
The UFL has not announced any league discipline at this time. Brandon's statement indicated the league is treating the matter as active and developing.
The Aviators return home to Historic Crew Stadium on April 17 at 8 p.m. ET to host the Dallas Renegades. Columbus played its home opener on April 3 against DC.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
