Philadelphia Eagles’ outside linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. issued an apology for his arrest back in May for driving over the speed limit and reckless driving in his first comments about the matter.
Smith had been caught driving over 135 mph in a 70-mph area along the interstate at 10:41 pm on May 15, according to Twiggs County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office, per ESPN.
“I apologized to the organization, and I’ll make that apology now,” Smith told reporters Monday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I represent the Eagles no matter where I go, Georgia, Florida, it doesn’t matter. That’s one of the ones that I own up and I apologize for. It’s just like that.
We make mistakes and it can’t happen again and that’s unacceptable. I did apologize to [general manager] Howie [Roseman], I did apologize to [owner] Mr. [Jeffrey] Lurie, and I can’t let my teammates down like that. They hold me to a different accountability on and off the field.”
A court hearing for the case was scheduled for July 14. Smith did not have to show up for the court if he could pay any fees related to the charges and claimed that “nothing came from” his arrest.
Smith, 25, was drafted into the Philadelphia Eagles’ team as the 22nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in the first round and joined his teammates from Georgia’s great defense such as Jalen Carter, Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis. Smith totaled 6.5 sacks during the regular season in 2024 and another four in playoffs as Eagles played their way into the Super Bowl game. Smith has 10.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for losses since joining Philadelphia Eagles.
