Eagles' Nolan Smith arrested in Georgia after being clocked at 135 mph
The 2023 first-round pick was charged with reckless driving and speeding on Interstate 16 in Twiggs County. He has been released on bond.
Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. was clocked driving 135 mph on Interstate 16 in Twiggs County, Georgia, at 10:41 p.m. on Friday, May 15. The Twiggs County Sheriff's Office charged him with reckless driving and speeding, and the news became public on Wednesday when ESPN obtained the police report.
What happened?
According to deputy notes from the Twiggs County Sheriff's Office, Smith was traveling 135 mph in a 70 mph zone on I-16. The interstate is the main east-west connector between Macon and Savannah. Smith was driving alone. He was arrested at the scene, charged with reckless driving and speeding, and released after posting bond. A future court date has been set but the sheriff's office did not publicly disclose the date.
Who is Nolan Smith?
A 2023 first-round pick (30th overall) by the Eagles out of Georgia. Won back-to-back national championships at UGA. Took two seasons to develop in the NFL before breaking out with 6.5 sacks during Philadelphia's Super Bowl LIX run. 2025 produced 9 sacks and a Pro Bowl alternate selection. The Eagles signed him to a four-year, $98 million extension in March 2026.
What have the Eagles said?
The team released a one-sentence statement: 'We are aware of the situation and are gathering information.' Head coach Nick Sirianni has not commented. General manager Howie Roseman is on vacation and not expected to address the team's response until next week. Multiple Philadelphia outlets reported that Smith was attending OTAs as scheduled on Wednesday.
What does Georgia law say?
Reckless driving in Georgia is a misdemeanor carrying up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Driving 35 mph or more over the limit is classified as super-speeder, which adds a $200 state fee on top of any local citation. The combination of the two charges typically results in license suspension and probation rather than incarceration for first-time offenders, but the speed in this case (65 mph over the limit) puts Smith near the upper bound of the recklessness scale.
Could the league discipline him?
Possibly. The NFL's Personal Conduct Policy covers off-field arrests including reckless driving when the conduct creates substantial public safety risk. Recent comparable cases (Henry Ruggs III's vehicular homicide is the most severe; Marshon Lattimore's 2021 reckless driving citation is the closest non-injury parallel) have produced suspensions ranging from one game to multiple games. The league typically waits for the criminal case to resolve before announcing discipline. Smith is signed through 2029.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Eagles' Nolan Smith arrested after car clocked at 135 mph in Georgia
- NBC Sports: Nolan Smith Jr. was recently arrested for reckless driving, speeding
- WSB-TV Atlanta: Former UGA star, Eagles defensive end charged with reckless driving
- Philadelphia Inquirer: Nolan Smith cited for speeding and reckless driving
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