Former NFL player and UFC fighter Greg Hardy is back in jail for assault charges, adding another chapter to his long history of legal troubles and professional failures.
At a Glance
- Greg Hardy, 36, was arrested Wednesday in Texas for assault causing bodily injury to a family member
- The incident allegedly involved Hardy pushing his girlfriend onto a bed during an argument about infidelity
- Hardy has a troubling history, including a 2014 domestic violence case and 2016 cocaine possession arrest
- After being cut from the NFL, Hardy had an unsuccessful UFC career (4-5) before moving to boxing and bare-knuckle fighting
- He is currently awaiting arraignment and expected to appear before a judge for bond setting
Another Arrest in a Pattern of Trouble
Former NFL defensive lineman and UFC fighter Greg Hardy just can’t seem to stay out of trouble with the law. The 36-year-old athlete was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Richardson, Texas, on charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member. This latest incident adds to Hardy’s extensive rap sheet that has followed him through failed careers in both professional football and mixed martial arts. Local authorities confirmed Hardy was taken into custody around 2:29 p.m. local time and is currently being held in jail awaiting his first court appearance, where a judge will determine his bond conditions.
According to police reports, the arrest stemmed from an altercation with his girlfriend, who confronted Hardy after discovering messages from another woman on his phone. When she accused him of cheating, the situation allegedly escalated into physical violence. Hardy’s girlfriend told officers that he pushed her onto a bed and held her down, though she clarified her breathing wasn’t restricted and she remained conscious throughout the incident. Police observed and documented scratches and redness on her arms consistent with her account of a physical struggle.
She Said, He Said
Hardy’s version of events, predictably, contradicts his girlfriend’s account. He admitted to authorities that an argument occurred but denied causing any harm, claiming he merely “moved her out of the way” and placed her on the bed. This type of denial has become a familiar refrain in Hardy’s legal troubles. After the altercation, Hardy allegedly took his girlfriend’s car keys and fled the scene, which didn’t exactly help his case with responding officers. This kind of behavior is entirely consistent with Hardy’s pattern of poor decisions both on and off the field.
“pushed her, with both of his hands on her chest, and she fell onto the bed.” – Hardy’s girlfriend
The police report includes the concerning detail that Hardy “got in a fight and he took her car and left,” showing his apparent disregard for both the law and his partner’s welfare. His girlfriend also specifically noted that while he held her down, her “breathing was not restricted nor did she lose consciousness” – a clarification that speaks volumes about the type of behavior she might have feared or experienced. The fact that such distinctions need to be made at all is troubling, to say the least.
A Career Marked by Legal Troubles
This latest arrest is merely the newest entry in Hardy’s troubled history. In 2014, he was convicted of domestic violence against his then-girlfriend, effectively derailing his promising NFL career. Although the conviction was later overturned when the victim failed to appear for the appeal trial (draw your own conclusions there), the damage to his reputation was already done. The Carolina Panthers parted ways with Hardy, and while the Dallas Cowboys gave him a second chance, his behavior continued to be problematic.
In 2016, while with the Cowboys, Hardy was arrested for felony possession of cocaine, further cementing his reputation as a player who couldn’t stay out of trouble. After his NFL career collapsed, Hardy attempted to reinvent himself as an MMA fighter, joining Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018 before securing a controversial UFC contract. His signing drew intense criticism given his history of domestic violence, but the UFC proceeded anyway. Hardy compiled a mediocre 4-5 record with one no contest before being cut after suffering three consecutive knockout losses.
Failed Reinventions
Hardy’s post-UFC career has been equally unimpressive. After being released from the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization in 2022, he turned to boxing and bare-knuckle fighting, where he’s continued to struggle. His combat sports journey has been marked by multiple knockout defeats, suggesting that his athletic abilities, once his only redeeming quality, have diminished considerably. At 36, with mounting legal troubles and dwindling career prospects, Hardy’s future looks increasingly bleak.
Hardy’s repeated legal troubles and his inability to maintain a successful career in any sport serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor decisions and character flaws. Despite being given multiple chances in different professional arenas, Hardy has consistently fallen short, both as an athlete and as a law-abiding citizen. As he awaits his bond hearing, one has to wonder if he’ll ever manage to turn his life around or if this is simply the latest chapter in an ongoing saga of troubling behavior and wasted potential.
