UFL playoffs take unexpected turn as former Cowboys and current DC Defenders player arrested Saturday morning following motorcycle collision that claimed one life.
Early Morning Crash Claims Life on U.S. 75
DC Defenders cornerback Kelvin Joseph Jr. was arrested Saturday following a fatal collision on northbound U.S. Highway 75 in Richardson Texas that killed 27-year-old motorcyclist Cody Morris of Plano.
Richardson police responded to the crash scene at approximately 4:51 a.m. Saturday morning, where they found Morris deceased with no other vehicles present. The incident shut down northbound lanes of the highway for more than three hours before reopening at 8:45 a.m.
Joseph Contacts Police After Leaving Scene
At 5:39 a.m., about 40 minutes after the initial crash response, Joseph called Plano Police Department from his Allen residence to report his involvement in the collision. Police determined Joseph had been driving a BMW sedan northbound on U.S. 75 when the collision with the motorcycle occurred.
When officers spoke with the 25-year-old cornerback, they observed signs of intoxication. Joseph was arrested before 8 a.m. and charged with driving while intoxicated and collision involving personal injury or death. He remains in Richardson Jail with no bond set.
Career Journey From Dallas to DC
Joseph entered the NFL as the Cowboys’ second-round draft pick (44th overall) in 2021 from the University of Kentucky. During his two seasons in Dallas, he recorded 47 tackles, five passes defended, two forced fumbles, and a fumble return for seven yards across 29 game appearances including playoffs.
After being traded to Miami in 2023, Joseph bounced between multiple NFL teams including the Dolphins, Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings, primarily spending time on practice squads during the 2024 season.
Joseph signed with the DC Defenders in February 2025 and appeared in nine games during the UFL’s 2025 campaign. The timing of his arrest creates uncertainty for the Defenders’ playoff run.
Previous Legal Troubles
Joseph was previously investigated as a person of interest in a March 2022 shooting outside the OT Tavern Bar and Grill in Lower Greenville that killed 20-year-old Cameron Ray. Joseph was identified through surveillance video showing a diamond-encrusted necklace bearing his rap name and claimed through his lawyer that he was a passenger in the car from which shots were fired but denied being the gunman. He was cleared of wrongdoing after more than four months, with two men from Louisiana arrested in connection to the shooting.
Impact on UFL Playoffs
The DC Defenders are scheduled to face the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL Conference Championship on Sunday. The winner advances to the UFL Championship game against the USFL Conference Champion.
The UFL released a statement saying: “We are aware of the incident and are gathering information. We have no further comment at this time”.
Investigation Continues
Richardson Police Department’s Special Crash Investigation Team is handling the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Richardson Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call them at 972-744-4944.
The incident marks another high-profile case involving an NFL player and traffic violations on Dallas-area highways, following Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice’s multivehicle crash on U.S. 75 near SMU in March 2024.
Joseph’s arrest raises questions about his availability for the Defenders’ championship run and his future in professional football as legal proceedings move forward.
