The Columbus Aviators will take the field Sunday without their head coach after Ted Ginn Jr. was arrested on driving while intoxicated charges in Texas over the weekend.
The former NFL receiver was taken into custody Saturday and processed at the Tarrant County jail around 3:30 p.m. local time before posting bond and being released at 8 p.m. that same day.
Ginn, who celebrated his 41st birthday on Sunday, was brought on to lead the Aviators during their first season after being hired in December. The former Ohio State second-team All-American addressed the incident through social media.
“I want to address the situation that took place over the weekend. I made a serious mistake and take full responsibility for my actions. I’ve always believed in accountability and now it’s my turn to live that standard,” Ginn said in a post on his X account.
“I understand the responsibility that comes with being a leader & role model, and falling short of this is not something I take lightly. I’m committed to learning from this, making better decisions, and earning back the trust of my players, our organization, and the fans.
“I appreciate the support of my family and the United Football League, and I respect the process as it moves forward. My focus now is on taking the necessary steps to grow from this and represent the Columbus Aviators and this community the right way.”
With Ginn unavailable, offensive coordinator Todd Haley will step in as interim head coach for Sunday’s matchup against Dallas in Frisco, Texas, according to a UFL announcement.
UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon acknowledged the situation in an official statement.
“We are aware of an incident involving Head Coach Ted Ginn Jr. over the weekend and are in the process of gathering more information,” Brandon said.
The struggling Aviators enter the contest winless at 0-2, having dropped both games since the franchise began play under Ginn’s leadership. Before transitioning to coaching, Ginn enjoyed a 14-season NFL career as a receiver, recording 412 catches for 5,742 yards and 33 touchdowns while playing for Miami (2007-09), San Francisco (2010-12), Carolina (2013, 2015-16), Arizona (2014), New Orleans (2017-19) and Chicago (2020). He also contributed seven return touchdowns and two rushing scores during his professional playing career.
