Henry Ruggs III was once a rising NFL star, selected as the first wide receiver in the 2020 draft and showing promise with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his football career was derailed in a matter of seconds following a tragic incident. Since August 2023, Ruggs has been serving a prison sentence for his role in a fatal DUI crash—and now, he’s trying to reshape his future from behind bars.
The turning point came in November 2021, when Ruggs, driving his Corvette Stingray at 156 mph in a 45 mph zone with his girlfriend and the mother of his child, crashed into another car. The impact caused the other vehicle to erupt in flames, killing 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. In May 2023, Ruggs pleaded guilty to DUI resulting in death and was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison, making him eligible for release between the ages of 27 and 34.
Prosecutors accepted the plea deal partly due to concerns over whether Ruggs’ blood alcohol content—measured at twice the legal limit—would be admissible in court, according to KRNV News 4. After the crash, Ruggs spent a month receiving PTSD treatment at a mental health facility in California. Since then, some of his former teammates have continued to support him, believing he still has a future once he serves his time.
Despite his incarceration, Ruggs remains focused on a potential return to football. According to former teammate Josh Jacobs, Ruggs has been training regularly at Stewart Conservation Camp in Nevada and remains mentally positive. Jacobs, speaking on The Pivot Podcast, said he’s already reached out to contacts and believes some NFL teams might be open to giving Ruggs another shot.
“He’s training, staying focused,” Jacobs said. “If he gets that chance, he needs to prove that one mistake doesn’t define his whole life.”
Outside of training, Ruggs works at the Nevada Governor’s Mansion in Carson City, earning $2.50 an hour as a community trusty—a designation for inmates considered low risk. His earliest chance at parole could come in August 2026, and until then, Ruggs is doing what he can to stay ready for a possible second chance.
