Photo: Nicole Mastrogiannis
Legendary former NFL linebacker Terrell Suggs is accused of brandishing a gun and threatening to kill a man during an argument that took place at a Scottsdale, Arizona, last month, prior to his arrest on Tuesday (April 9), according to Maricopa County court documents obtained by TMZ Sports.
The altercation reportedly took place at the store's drive-through area at around 12:28 p.m. on March 10. Suggs, 41, reportedly made contact with the victim's vehicle while putting his Range Rover in reverse to remedy the incident, though there was no apparent damage to the car.
Both drivers exited their vehicles and an argument ensured before returning to their vehicles and placed their respective orders. Suggs then reportedly gave the man the middle finger, which police said led to another verbal argument, at which point Suggs reportedly called him a "p***y a** cracker" and threatening that he would "kill your b***h a**" before flashing a handgun in his left hand outside of his driver's side window before leaving the area. Suggs issued a statement addressing his arrest through EAG Sports rep Denise White, which was obtained and shared by TMZ Sports on Wednesday (April 10).
"I was in a quiet area of Scottsdale in the middle of the day in a Starbucks drive-thru near my home when an incident happened with a vehicle behind me. I was getting coffee, I was not looking for any trouble," Suggs said. "When the man in the other vehicle escalated the situation, I feared for my safety not knowing what his intentions were. Throughout the incident, I was the one who felt in danger, while fearing I would be followed home and for the safety of my family nearby at my residence."
Suggs, who played college football at Arizona State from 2000 to 2002, last appeared in an NFL game during the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl LIV win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, recording two tackles and one QB hit, after being claimed off waivers in December 2019 following his release by the Arizona Cardinals.
Suggs is best known for his 15 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, which included winning his first of two Super Bowls, as well as being named the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and 2003 NFL Rookie of the Year. The linebacker was selected as a first-team All-Pro in 2011, a second-team All-Pro in 2008, a seven-time Pro Bowler (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017) and was enshrined in the Ravens Ring of Honor last October.
Suggs was selected by Baltimore at No. 10 overall in the 2003 NFL Draft following a decorated collegiate career at Arizona State, which included being selected as a unanimous All-American, Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pac-10, as well as winning the Ted Hendricks and Lombardi awards, as well as the Bronko Nagurski, Bill Willis and Morris trophies in 2002.