Former NFL defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche was arrested last week in Georgia after police observed him leaving a grocery store with items allegedly concealed in his clothing, leading to the discovery of multiple outstanding warrants.
According to a police report, an officer on a routine patrol spotted the 31-year-old Nkemdiche exiting a Kroger store with “many large objects, square and rectangular shapes, consistent with concealed grocery items, inside his sweatpants.” The 6-foot-3, 300-pound ex-player, a first-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2016, walked to a nearby gas station where officers confronted him and placed him in double-locked handcuffs.
A search of the parking lots revealed frozen grocery items, candy bars and almond milk, which police believe Nkemdiche had discarded. The store declined to press charges for theft but issued a criminal trespass order banning him from the premises, and perishable items were discarded. However, a background check revealed multiple warrants for Nkemdiche in several states, including three in Georgia, resulting in his booking at a local jail.
Nkemdiche, who last played in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers before his release in August 2022, has faced a series of legal and personal challenges since leaving professional football. Here’s a breakdown of his reported issues post-NFL:
- March 2025: DUI and related charges. Nkemdiche was arrested in Cobb County, Georgia, for driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and driving without proof of insurance.
- July 2025: Shoplifting arrest. He was taken into custody in Gwinnett County, Georgia, after allegedly attempting to steal a $17 bottle of wine from a gas station in Buford.
- Additional 2025 incident. Reports indicate another separate arrest in 2025, though details remain limited in available accounts.
- February 2026: Grocery incident and warrants. The latest encounter led to his arrest primarily on the outstanding warrants, which appear tied to unresolved prior legal matters across states.
These post-NFL troubles follow earlier incidents during his career and college years, including a 2019 arrest for speeding and driving on a suspended license while with the Cardinals, and a 2015 marijuana possession charge after a hotel fall. Nkemdiche earned over $13 million during his NFL tenure but has not played professionally since 2022.
No further details on his current status or court dates were immediately available.
