WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler was released after spending less than three days in jail for driving under the influence in Williamson County.
The Vanderbilt University graduate was arrested in October 2024 after the Franklin Police Department said he rear-ended another vehicle. Per court documents, Cutler tried to flee the scene after offering the other driver $2,000 to not call law enforcement.
Officers who spoke with Cutler reportedly noticed a strong smell of alcohol, slurred words, and bloodshot eyes. In addition, authorities said they found a rifle in Cutler’s backseat and a loaded Glock pistol in the center console.
The day after the crash, News 2 reported Cutler had been charged with DUI, possession of a handgun while intoxicated, failure to exercise due care, and violation of the implied consent law.
According to the district attorney’s office, Cutler took a plea deal in late August that would have dropped the gun charge upon the weapon’s forfeiture and sentenced to four days in jail for the DUI. However, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office said he was booked into jail shortly before 9:45 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 29 for DUI, possession of a handgun while under the influence, failure to exercise due care, and violation of the implied consent law.
Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Hughes confirmed to News 2 that Cutler was released from jail the night of Wednesday, Oct. 1. No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding his early release.
In addition to the jail sentence, Cutler reportedly had his license revoked; he will be on supervised probation for a year, which will include random and regular drug tests; and he was ordered to pay a $350 fine.
Cutler was married to reality star Kristin Cavallari before their divorce in 2022. He was a quarterback for the Chicago Bears, the Denver Broncos, and the Miami Dolphins during his 12-year career. He retired from the NFL in 2017.