Former NFL defensive end and UFC fighter Greg Hardy has recently been arrested for allegedly assaulting a member of his family. The 36-year-old athlete was taken into custody in Richardson, Texas on Wednesday, June 3 at 2:29 p.m. The jail records obtained by Us Weekly indicate that Hardy was charged with “assault causes bodily injury family member.” As of now, bond has not been set, but TMZ reported that it will be addressed during a court appearance scheduled for Thursday, June 5.
Specific details regarding the charges against Hardy have not been disclosed to the public at this time. This arrest marks the latest in a series of legal troubles for the former Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys player, who achieved Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors during his time with the Panthers in 2013.
In July 2014, Hardy was found guilty of assaulting a former girlfriend, leading to a sentence of 18 months’ probation and a suspended 60-day jail term. However, the domestic violence charges against him were ultimately dismissed in 2015 after his accuser chose not to cooperate with the case and attend court proceedings. The district attorney’s office cited “reliable information” indicating that a civil settlement had been reached between Hardy and the accuser, and the accuser deliberately made herself unavailable to assist the prosecution.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Hardy consistently maintained his innocence, vehemently denying any allegations of violence against women. Even when photos of the alleged victim were leaked to the media, he dismissed them as manipulative and misleading representations of the truth.
Following the controversy surrounding his domestic violence case, Hardy faced a 10-game suspension from the NFL while playing for the Panthers, which was later reduced to 4 games after he signed with the Dallas Cowboys. The arbitrator overseeing the case, Harold Henderson, expressed disapproval of Hardy’s conduct, deeming it a clear violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
In 2016, Hardy faced further legal issues when he was arrested for cocaine possession, but the charges were dropped after he completed a pretrial diversion program. Despite the tumultuous events during his NFL career, Hardy announced his transition to mixed martial arts after the 2015 season ended.
He made his UFC debut in January 2019, accumulating a record of 7-5 with one no contest for the promotion. However, in March 2022, the UFC disclosed that they would not be renewing Hardy’s contract, signaling a new chapter for the embattled athlete in his professional career. Hardy’s journey has been marked by highs and lows, both on and off the field, reflecting the complexities and challenges of life as a professional athlete.
