The Detroit Lions are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. However, one of their former players has found themselves in hot water. Many former NFL players have trouble adjusting to life after football and can get into some minor trouble. Former first-round pick Brandon Pettigrew was arrested after punching a glass door in a store this past weekend.
Former Detroit Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew Arrested
A video was obtained and released by TMZ Sports showing the Sunday morning incident. The arrest happened in Dallas, Texas, at a 7-Eleven. Brandon Pettigrew punched through the glass door after having a conversation with police. While initially hesitant to comply with officers, he ultimately calmed down and was arrested without further incident.
TMZ Sports reported that the former Detroit Lions tight end was charged with criminal mischief and then released later that afternoon. This is the third time Brandon Pettigrew has been arrested since retiring from the NFL. In 2017, he was booked for disorderly conduct at an Oklahoma City nightclub. In 2018, he was arrested for allegedly punching a police officer in an unpaid limo incident.
NFL Career
Brandon Pettigrew was the 20th overall pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft. All seven of his NFL seasons were spent with the NFC North team. In his career, he caught 301 passes for 2,965 yards and 17 touchdowns. His best year was the 2011 season, when he caught 83 passes for 777 yards and five scores. For whatever reason, he saw his usage go down later in his career and didn’t have much production over his final three seasons.
His most famous moment came in a 2015 playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. With the Detroit Lions leading 20-17 midway through the fourth quarter, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a pass to Brandon Pettigrew that fell incomplete. However, linebacker Anthony Hitchens looked to interfere with the pass, and a flag was thrown. After talking it over, the refs ruled there was no penalty, and the Lions punted the ball away.
It was a call that still hurts Detroit Lions fans today. That play gets brought up often whenever these two teams play, and it certainly will if these two franchises meet in this season’s playoffs.
Final Thoughts
The Brandon Pettigrew situation is one fans never like to see. We want the players who we grew up watching to be doing positive things for their communities. Hopefully, the former Detroit Lions tight end can find the help he needs and be able to move forward with his life.