Key Takeaways
- Eddie recently made headlines due to an arrest for “Extreme DUI” in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Injuries and weight issues affected his performance, leading to his retirement in 2017.
- Post-NFL, Lacy shifted his focus to mental wellness, fitness, and philanthropy.
Now, in 2024, Eddie Lacy’s life is far from the spotlight he once enjoyed as a top NFL running back.
Known for his early success with the Green Bay Packers (2013-2016) and the Seattle Seahawks (2017), his post-football life has been marked by personal challenges and legal troubles.
Most recently, Lacy made headlines on September 30, 2024, when he was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, for an “Extreme DUI.”
This incident brought public attention back to the difficulties Lacy has faced since he retired from professional football in 2017.
The arrest occurred after police received reports of erratic driving, leading to a traffic stop.
Officers found Lacy’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was a staggering .325% – well beyond Arizona’s legal limit.
In Arizona, an extreme DUI charge applies when the BAC is at least .15%, making Lacy’s case especially severe.
One officer noted in the police report:
Eddie’s speech was slow. Slurred and mumbled as soon as I began talking to him.
Lacy claimed he had only one drink on a flight from Wisconsin to Arizona before the incident.
Additionally, officers discovered an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.
He faces multiple charges as a result of these details, though he has been released.
This isn’t Lacy’s first run-in with the law. In March 2022, he faced a five-count case in Scottsdale City Court involving a DUI, including two counts of extreme DUI.
While four charges were dropped after a city attorney’s request, Lacy pleaded guilty to driving with a BAC of at least .20%.
He was fined and faced additional charges related to driving with a suspended license.
Eddie Lacy’s Retirement and Post-NFL Life
Eddie Lacy’s football career, however, started with incredible promise. After helping the University of Alabama win two national championships, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2013.
His rookie season was exceptional—he gained over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and scored 11 touchdowns, earning both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honours.
But as time went on, injuries and ongoing weight issues began to affect his performance, ultimately contributing to his departure from the NFL in 2017.
Lacy’s final NFL season was with the Seahawks, but after a 2019 workout with the Baltimore Ravens, his professional football career came to an end.
Since stepping away from football, Eddie Lacy has lived a more private life. He has openly discussed his struggles with weight and how internet trolls affected his mental health during his career.
In response, Lacy shifted his focus toward mental wellness and fitness in the years following his retirement. In November 2021, Lacy became an advocate for mental health by joining Amare Global, a mental wellness company.
Beyond mental wellness, he has maintained his dedication to fitness, regularly engaging in activities like weightlifting, running, and cycling.
He has also embraced philanthropy, working with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Although Eddie Lacy has left the NFL behind, his story is far from over. He has successfully transitioned from professional football to a life focused on health, mental wellness, and philanthropy.
Though he had stepped away from the public scene, Lacy’s legal issues have now brought him back into the spotlight.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Born on June 2, 1990, Edward Darwin Lacy Jr. was raised in Gretna, a suburban area of New Orleans, Louisiana.
- During his sophomore season, he ran for 1,207 yards and scored 13 times, added 34 touchdowns as a junior, and had a single touchdown in his injury-filled senior season.
- His family had to flee their childhood home because of Hurricane Katrina, relocating to Beaumont, Texas, where they stayed with Lacy’s aunt.
