Former NFL Player Arrested After Allegedly Urinating On Plane Passenger

A former NFL player has issued an apology after being arrested for allegedly urinating on a passenger during a Delta flight from Boston to Ireland on Sunday.

Gosder Cherilus was taken into custody at Boston’s Logan International Airport around 2 a.m. after the flight was forced to return due to “an unruly passenger who urinated on another passenger on board,” Massachusetts State Police said in a statement to HuffPost.

Cherilus, who spent nine seasons as an offensive tackle in the NFL playing for the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was described as “irate and uncooperative” by responding authorities when ordered to get off the plane.

A representative for Delta confirmed the incident to HuffPost, saying in a statement, “Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior and will cooperate with law enforcement to that end.”

Then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Gosder Cherilus is seen during a 2015 NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers. He allegedly urinated on a passenger during a flight over the weekend.

In a statement posted to X, formerly called Twitter, Cherilus addressed reports of the incident with an apology, saying his behavior stemmed from taking a sleeping medication after learning the flight’s departure was delayed until after 12:30 a.m.

“In preparation for the unexpected overnight flight, I took a sleeping medication that I don’t normally use, which resulted in behavior that is not representative of my character, and I would like to apologize to the passengers and flight crew,” he said.

Cherilus appeared drunk before boarding the plane, and before takeoff, he got into an argument with another passenger over seating arrangements, CBS Boston reported, citing a copy of Cherilus’ arrest report.

About an hour into the flight, he got up and urinated on an elderly woman “for approximately 20 seconds.” He then hit an elderly man with his right hand as he walked back to his seat, the arrest report stated.

Cherilus pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in East Boston District Court on Monday to charges of disorderly conduct and disturbing a flight crew. He declined to take questions from reporters outside the courthouse, according to NBC Boston.