Former NFL First Round Pick Arrested for DUI, Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass Damage

A former NFL player, Robert Nkemdiche, was arrested over the weekend for disorderly conduct and driving under the influence at a Kennesaw bowling alley, according to the Cobb County Police Department.

The 30-year-old defensive tackle, originally from Buford, was charged with multiple offenses, including driving while impaired by alcohol, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, and having no proof of insurance.

The incident took place on Saturday night, just before 10 p.m., when a Cobb County officer noticed the smell of alcohol emanating from Nkemdiche while he was sitting in the driver’s seat of his vehicle outside Bowlero Kennesaw on Cobb Place Boulevard.

A breathalyzer test confirmed that he had been drinking, and authorities reported that the test showed a positive result for alcohol. Further investigation revealed that Nkemdiche’s Arizona driver’s license had been suspended due to multiple failure-to-appear offenses, and he was also found to be driving without insurance.

Earlier that evening, inside Bowlero Kennesaw, Nkemdiche was allegedly involved in an altercation with the bowling alley’s general manager. According to police, he threatened the manager without provocation and engaged in a profanity-laced outburst directed at several patrons. Despite being asked to leave multiple times, Nkemdiche reportedly refused to comply with staff requests. His disruptive behavior escalated when he allegedly kicked a trash can outside the establishment, causing around $250 in damages.

Nkemdiche’s legal troubles stem from a series of charges, including DUI, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespass damage. In total, he faces five misdemeanor charges: a less-safe DUI, driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance, disorderly conduct, and criminal damage to property.

The incident has drawn attention due to Nkemdiche’s previous professional football career, which included stints with the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and Seattle Seahawks. He most recently played for the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League.

Before his professional career, Nkemdiche was a standout athlete at Grayson High School in Gwinnett County, where he earned recognition as one of the top high school football prospects in the Southeast. He was celebrated as the Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 by the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Despite his promising football career, this recent incident has raised concerns about his personal conduct, further complicating his post-NFL journey.