Former NFL player Darron Lee has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with his girlfriend’s death in Tennessee. The 31-year-old was taken into custody by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. He is also facing a charge of tampering with evidence.
Police say more charges could come as the investigation moves forward. According to People, the incident happened when deputies went to a home on the 7500 block of Snow Cone Way after getting a call about CPR in progress. Despite efforts to save her, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
After looking into the situation, authorities determined the death was a homicide. Police identified Lee as the victim’s boyfriend and arrested him at the location. Officials have not released the victim’s name or age yet because they are still notifying her family.
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Lee has a troubling history of violence against women
This is not the first time Lee has been in trouble with the law. He was arrested multiple times in 2023 for incidents involving women. In one case, Lee allegedly pushed a woman against a wall, threw her to the floor, and punched her face and head eight or nine times with his closed fists.
In another incident, he allegedly threw a cell phone at a different woman, hitting her head so hard that her ear started bleeding. During that same incident, he was accused of grabbing her neck while punching a pillow next to her head, which left red marks on her neck. While some athletes overcome serious injuries to compete, Lee’s struggles have been far more troubling.
Lee accepted a plea deal in February 2025 for an April 2023 incident involving a female relative. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of possessing a counterfeit controlled substance and attempted assault. The plea deal allowed him to avoid having a domestic violence conviction on his record.
Lee played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2013 to 2015. The New York Jets selected him in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. He played for the Jets until 2018 and then briefly joined the Kansas City Chiefs before leaving the league.
Like other high-profile NFL figures facing controversy, Lee’s legal troubles have overshadowed his football career. It is not known if Lee has hired a lawyer to represent him on these new charges. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to provide more information as the case develops.
Published: Feb 7, 2026 02:30 pm