Bodycam footage shows NFL hopeful quarterback Stetson Bennett blaming police

04 April 2023 , 21:00

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Georgia college star and NFL hopeful Stetson Bennett appeared to blame police for ruining his reputation following his January 2023 arrest (Image: Getty)

NFL hopeful Stetson Bennett accused police officers of ruining his reputation in a newly released video of his January arrest for public intoxication.

Bennett, 25, was arrested in Dallas, Texas, in January this year after a 911 caller described the star college quarterback as “very” intoxicated, and that he had been “banging on doors” in the neighbourhood and “yelling”.

Bennett, who led the Georgia Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, was cuffed and seated in the back of a police car, but proceeded to accuse officers of ruining his reputation in newly released footage obtained by TMZ. Bennett also complained about the tightness of his handcuffs.

“Reputation ruined. Everything I worked for 20 years, ruined. But ya’ll boys just looking out for me, aren’t ya? Thank you, sir,” Bennett could be heard saying on bodycam footage.

Officers pressed Bennett on why he was in the area, to which the NFL hopeful said he was in the Dallas area for training. And when asked whether he was a resident in the neighbourhood, Bennett revealed he was not but his friend, former Bulldogs offensive lineman Owen Condon, was.

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A police officer then asked where the quarterback had been prior. In the back of the police car, Bennett whined: “The door shut and somebody fell asleep. And now five million people gotta see it, don’t they? Thank you, boys, for looking out for me. You guys are the best.”

Stetson Bennett was arrested in Dallas, Texas, for public intoxication

In the weeks following his arrest for public intoxication, Bennett was remorseful for his actions. “It was a mistake that everybody’s aware of,” Bennett said during the NFL Scouting Combine in March.

“I understand why that can’t happen. I’ve talked to coaches about it, talked to GMs. I’ve apologised to my family. That’s who I felt worse about; I felt like I let them down because no matter where I go now [people are going to know about it].”

Bennett will be part of the 2023 NFL Draft, which gets underway later this month, where he is ranked the No9 quarterback.

Joshua Mbu