Eagles’ Star Nolan Smith Arrested For Driving 135 MPH, Mugshot Released

by Alexander BumbMay 22, 2026, 2:25 am >

Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Nolan Smith was arrested May 15 after allegedly driving 135 mph in a 70 mph zone in Twiggs County, Georgia.

He was later released on bond, but the arrest came at a critical time for Smith and the Eagles.

Philadelphia exercised its fifth-year option this year, signaling the organization’s confidence in the former first-round pick as a major part of the team’s future.

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Smith is a Super Bowl champion and has steadily developed into a key defensive contributor for the Eagles after being selected 30th overall in 2023.

He stood out at the combine and has helped the Eagles during recent playoff runs, becoming known for his speed, energy, and pass-rush ability on third downs.

However, this is not Smith’s first driving-related incident. He previously faced a misdemeanor traffic charge while at Georgia in 2022—the year the Bulldogs won the national title—for speeding and driving on a suspended license.

Several Georgia football players have been arrested for speeding in recent years. Teammate Jalen Carter, a first-round pick in 2023, was involved in a high-profile incident after the national title win over TCU, fleeing the scene of a crash that resulted in a fatality. That was just three years ago, but situations like this simply cannot happen.

The Eagles have not publicly commented on the arrest, but the situation quickly became one of the bigger NFL offseason storylines.

Organized team activities are expected to begin soon for every NFL team, putting even more attention on Smith and the controversy surrounding his return to the practice field.

It remains to be seen whether the NFL will discipline Smith, but he now faces additional pressure to prove he can avoid distractions off the field.

He was expected to be one of Philadelphia’s defensive leaders. This is a setback for the team this offseason.