On Tuesday June 17, 2025, former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was granted a special release from prison so that he could speak at a Hope for Prisoners event in Las Vegas.
Ruggs III is currently serving a 3 to 10 year prison sentence at Casa Grande Transitional Housing in Las Vegas, Nevada. He received that sentence after Ruggs III killed 23-year old Tina Trator in a car crash in November of 2021. Ruggs was driving under the influence at 156 mph during the night when the crash occurred. In May 2023, he pled guilty to felony DUI resulting in death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
At the Hope for Prisoners event, Ruggs III apologized to Trator’s family.
“I wish I could turn back the hands of time,” Ruggs said when asked what he would tell the family in a video taken by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I would love for them to meet the real Henry Ruggs and not the one that was escaping from something.”
NFL Ties Made Crash More Devastating
Ruggs III later said that the pressure of being a first round pick in the NFL draft was the thing he was escaping from.
Ruggs was remorseful not only for the crash but the attention it garnered because he is a famous NFL player.
“I sincerely apologize for not only being a part of that situation, but the fact my face is always in the news, it’s always in the newspaper,” Ruggs said. “So they have to constantly be reminded of the situation, be reminded of me. Those memories have to continue to rise because of all of the fame and the notoriety I have, which I never asked for. I never liked.”
Ruggs III Hopes For a Second Chance in the NFL
It has recently been revealed that Ruggs III is seeking a second chance to play professional football.
Back on April 29, 2025, Ruggs III’s former teammate Josh Jacobs made an appearance on ESPN analyst Ryan Clark’s The Pivot podcast for an in depth interview about Jacobs’s career.
The conversation eventually shifted to Ruggs III. Jacobs and Ruggs III were teammates for two seasons at Alabama and again for two seasons with the Raiders.
Jacobs said that he’s been keeping in contact with Ruggs III, and that Ruggs III has been training while in prison, hoping to receive a second chance in the NFL.
“I’ve been talking to some people for him,” Jacobs said. “They’ve been saying a couple of teams are willing to give him a chance.”
Jacobs also asserted that Ruggs III was a good person with a clean record other than the crash.
“He’s a good kid,” Jacobs said. “He’s never been in trouble. I’ve never seen him do nothing crazy. He was just one of them guys that have a very, very unfortunate situation and something happened, a decision that he made.”
At the Hope for Prisoners event, Ruggs III confirmed that he hopes to have a second chance for an NFL career.
“Yes, I would love to,” Ruggs said. “I’m in this newfound spiritual space, and I’m confident in who I am and what I can do, so, when the time comes, I’m sure I’ll be ready.”
Ruggs III is up for parole as early as August 5, 2026.
So what do Raiders fans think? Should Ruggs III be forgiven and given a second chance or should he be barred from returning to the NFL for his crimes?
