LOS ANGELES, CA – Former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, Derrick Ward, found himself in police custody on a felony charge in Los Angeles on Monday, per online jail records.
Ward was apprehended around midday and was processed into the Valley Jail in Van Nuys by 6:30 p.m. The authorities have set his bail at $250,000.
The 43-year-old is suspected of participating in several robberies throughout the city, allegedly using force to extort money from various businesses, including gas stations, as reported by TMZ.
Ward, a seventh-round pick for the New York Jets in the 2004 draft from Fresno State and later Ottawa University in Kansas, never played a game for the Jets as he was released before the season started. He later found success with the Giants, where he played for five years. Alongside Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, Ward was part of the formidable running back trio known as “Earth, Wind and Fire.”
In the 2007 season, the Giants’ running backs played a crucial role in the team’s Super Bowl victory over the undefeated New England Patriots, led by Tom Brady.
In 2009, Ward joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a successful season with the Giants, where he ran for over 1,000 yards and led the league in yards per attempt (5.6). He ended his career with the Houston Texans, playing for them in 2010 and 2011 before retiring from the NFL in 2012. Over his career, Ward accumulated 2,628 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.