Former Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III denied parole nearly 5 years after fatal crash

Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs was denied parole on June 11, nearly three years after he was sentenced to prison for a November 2021 drunken driving crash that killed a woman.

Ruggs in May 2023 pleaded guilty to one count of felony DUI causing death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. His Chevrolet Corvette reached speeds of up to 156 mph, Las Vegas police said, just prior to slamming into the back of an SUV. Tina Tintor, 23, and her dog both died of thermal injuries as a result of the collision, the Clark County (Nevada) Coroner's Office determined.

Ruggs' blood-alcohol level was found to be 0.161%, more than twice Nevada's legal limit.

Under a plea deal with the agreement with the Clark County (Nevada) District Attorney's office, Ruggs was sentenced to a prison term of three to 10 years.

Henry Ruggs' parole timeline

In an initial May parole hearing via Zoom, Ruggs said he took "full responsibility for my actions that led to Ms. Tintor's death and her dog, Max."

Added Ruggs, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "Not a minute goes by where I don't think of the pain I caused her family, her friends and the Las Vegas community."

Nevada Board of Parole commissioner Sandy Schmitt said in May that Ruggs is considered a low risk and that guidelines recommend he be released following his first or second hearing, according to the Review-Journal.

Ruggs was transferred in October 2025 from a low-security transitional housing center to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, a medium-security facility.

Henry Ruggs' NFL career

After starring at Alabama and helping the Crimson Tide win a national title in 2018, Ruggs was selected by the Raiders with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was the first receiver taken, hearing his name called ahead of future Pro Bowl selections CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Justin Jefferson, among others.

As a rookie, Ruggs recorded 26 catches for 452 yards and two touchdowns. He matched that production through seven games in 2021 (24 catches, 469 yards, two touchdowns) but was released by the Raiders just hours after his arrest.

Will Henry Ruggs return to NFL?

Ruggs, 27, said in June 25 that he hopes to resume his playing career once released from prison.

I'm in this newfound spiritual space, and I'm confident in who I am and what I can do," Ruggs said at a Hope for Prisoners event in Las Vegas, according to the Review-Journal. "So, when the time comes, I'm sure I'll be ready."

Ruggs added he would welcome another opportunity with the Raiders. The front-office leaders who drafted him and coaches under whom he worked, however, no longer remain with the organization.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Henry Ruggs III denied parole nearly 5 years after fatal crash