Former NFL Player Gosder Cherilus Speaks Out After Arrest for Disorderly Conduct on Delta Flight
Former NFL player Gosder Cherilus has broken his silence after being arrested for disorderly conduct on a Delta flight from Boston to Dublin on Sunday. Cherilus, 40, allegedly urinated on another passenger, forcing the flight to be rerouted to Boston, Massachusetts.
Cherilus, who played for the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout his NFL career, issued a short statement apologizing for his actions. He claimed that his behavior was caused by a sleeping medication he had taken in preparation for the overnight flight.
“I’d like to address the media reports about me that surfaced today regarding a situation that occurred onboard a flight to Ireland this past weekend,” Cherilus wrote on social media. “The flight was unexpectedly delayed for approximately four hours, and it did not take off until after 12:30 AM. In preparation for the unexpected overnight flight, I took a sleeping medication that I don’t normally use, which resulted in behavior that is not representative of my character, and I would like to apologize to the passengers and flight crew.”
The Delta aircrew requested State Police assistance for the flight at 2 am ET Sunday and elected to divert and return to Boston following Cherilus’ outrageous behavior. After the plane touched back down at Logan Airport, State Police troopers boarded the aircraft and told Cherilus to disembark. However, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer was uncooperative and initially refused, forcing troopers to escort him off the plane and arrest him.
Cherilus was arraigned in East Boston Municipal Court on Monday and charged with disorderly conduct and disturbing a flight crew. The former first-round pick was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court again at a later date.
The incident has sparked outrage among passengers and has led to calls for stricter penalties for unruly behavior on flights. Delta has also issued a statement apologizing to customers for the delay in their travel.
Cherilus last played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring after the 2016 season. He has since pursued a career in real estate, founding his own company, Bastion Companies.
The former NFLer is believed to have earned over $40 million throughout his career on the field, last signing a two-year $7 million contract with Tampa Bay in 2015.
This incident has raised questions about the consequences of unruly behavior on flights and the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all passengers.
Gosder Cherilus broke his silence Monday after he was arrested on a Delta flight Sunday
The former first-round pick issued a short statement apologizing for his actions
He was arraigned Monday after allegedly urinating on another passenger
Cherilus last played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring after 2016 season