Former NFL wide receiver Damoun Patterson is in serious legal trouble after being arrested in Florida on multiple felony charges. The 31-year-old, who spent time with several NFL teams but never played in a regular-season game, was taken into custody early Thursday morning.
According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, Patterson was arrested on Aug. 22 and now faces charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief, and armed burglary of a dwelling. The arrest stems from a home invasion in Orlando, where police identified Patterson as the suspect after finding him inside a stolen vehicle around 1 a.m. Authorities say a "machete-style knife" was found in the front passenger seat.
Patterson remains in police custody without bond, and officials have not released further details about the incident. The arrest adds to a growing list of legal issues for former athletes, echoing the recent DUI arrest of former Eagles Pro Bowler Miles Sanders.
From Undrafted to NFL Fringes
Patterson's football journey began at Youngstown State, where he recorded 1,039 receiving yards and six touchdowns over two seasons. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Standing 6-foot-2, Patterson showed flashes of promise, scoring two preseason touchdowns, but he never appeared in a regular-season NFL game.
The Steelers waived him with an injury designation in September 2018, and he later joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad. After a brief stint there, he finished the season with the New England Patriots, who released him at the end of the 2019 preseason.
Bodycam footage of the arrest, obtained by the Daytona Beach News-Journal, shows police ordering Patterson out of the car at gunpoint. In the footage, Patterson tells officers he broke both toes during his time with the Steelers and claims the organization should have drafted him.
This incident is the latest in a string of off-field troubles for former NFL players, raising questions about how teams handle player health and conduct. It also comes amid other legal battles in the sports world, such as the reduced charges for Packers' Josh Jacobs.
Patterson's career may be over, but his legal troubles are just beginning. He is scheduled to appear in court at a later date, and the charges could carry significant prison time if convicted.
