Total Pro Sports
Henry Ruggs III stood before a crowd at the “Hope For Prisoners” event in Las Vegas on Tuesday, not as the former first-round pick or speedster from Alabama, but as a man owning up to the tragedy that changed, and ended, lives.
Ruggs, now incarcerated at Casa Grande Transitional Housing, received special permission to share his story, express remorse, and answer questions about the life he’s trying to rebuild.
Speaking publicly for the first time in months, Ruggs directed his first message to the family of Tina Tintor, the 23-year-old woman who died along with her dog when Ruggs crashed his Corvette into her car in 2021.
“I sincerely apologize,” Ruggs said, voice measured but heavy. “Not only for being a part of that situation, but the fact my face is always in the news. They have to constantly be reminded of me.”
When someone in the room asked if he’d play for the Raiders again, Ruggs didn’t hesitate. “Why would I not?” he replied. The question was simple, but the answer reopened a conversation some thought had long closed.
Back in 2021, just days after the crash, Raiders owner Mark Davis said the franchise would not abandon Ruggs. “Henry Ruggs is still a human being and Raider alumni,” Davis told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We’ll be there for him.” That wasn’t a job offer then, but it might suggest a door isn’t completely shut.
🚨🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨🚨
Former first-round pick Henry Ruggs III plans on playing in the #NFL after getting out of prison.
Ruggs has been training and is only 26 & would like to play for the Raiders again
Q: “Would you want to play for the Raiders again”
Ruggs. “Why would I not” pic.twitter.com/6bsSat5HIa
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 18, 2025
According to Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, Ruggs hasn’t forgotten his NFL dream. Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, Jacobs said Ruggs continues training inside the facility.
“He’s positive about everything,” Jacobs noted. “He’s training. They let him train and things like that.”
Jacobs, who remains close with Ruggs, believes some teams may already be watching. “I’ve been talking to some people for him. They’ve been saying a couple of teams are willing to give him a chance,” he added.
Ruggs’ earliest possible parole date is August 5, 2026. Until then, he waits, works, and reflects. Whether the Raiders will take that call remains unknown. But as Ruggs continues to train behind prison walls, he’s clearly hoping that his NFL story isn’t over—and maybe, just maybe, it still includes silver and black.
Also Read: Henry Ruggs Is Reportedly Training In Prison For An NFL Comeback
