Eagles Edge Nolan Smith Apologizes for Reckless Driving Arrest

Smith was arrested without incident in Twiggs County, Georgia, on May 15.

Published: 8/4/2026, 5:51:33 PM EDT

Eagles Edge Nolan Smith Apologizes for Reckless Driving Arrest — A Kansas City Chiefs helmet, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and a Philadelphia Eagles helmet before the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's Super Bowl Press Conference ahead of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2025. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith apologized to the team and to fans for his May arrest.

Smith was arrested in Georgia for driving nearly double the posted speed limit on a Georgia highway. His Monday press conference was his first appearance at the podium since the accident. He took the opportunity to issue a public apology and give an update on his progress after missing time due to injury last season.

"Nothing came from it," Smith told reporters when asked about the arrest. "I apologize to the organization and I make that apology now. I represent the Eagles no matter where I go. Georgia, Florida, it doesn't matter. And that's one of the ones that I own up to, and I apologize for, and it's just like that. We make mistakes, and it can't happen again, and that's unacceptable. And I did apologize to [general manager] Howie [Roseman], I did apologize to [owner Jeffrey] Lurie, and I can't let my teammates down like that. They hold me to a different accountability on and off the field."

Smith was arrested in Twiggs County, Georgia, on May 15. According to a Facebook post from the Twiggs County Sheriff's Office, deputies were conducting a High Visibility Enforcement operation on Interstate 16 when they observed a black Lamborghini driving approximately 136 miles per hour; the posted speed limit was 70 miles per hour. Deputies pulled the vehicle over without incident. The driver chose to follow deputies back to the Sheriff's Office, where he received a ticket, posted bond, and was released. The press release did not identify Smith as the driver, but his mugshot and charges were published by local news outlet The Georgia Gazette.

Smith was drafted by the Eagles with the 30th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He won back-to-back College Football Playoff national championships with Georgia and was one of six players from those teams who were drafted by the Eagles between 2022 and 2025. His teammate Jalen Carter was drafted 9th overall in the same year.

In his rookie season, he appeared as a backup behind Haason Reddick. He had 18 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. In 2024, he appeared in 16 games with 10 starts; he totaled 42 tackles, 8 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble, 2 recoveries, and 2 pass defenses. During the Eagles' 2024-2025 playoff run, he had 16 total tackles, 4 TFLs, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble. He was instrumental in shutting down the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, but he tore his triceps in the game. He missed 5 games of the 2025 season after aggravating the injury. The injury hampered his performance, but he still amassed 31 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble.

"It was pretty frustrating, but you've got to keep going, keep fighting through," Smith said of his 2025 season. "All offseason I was just thinking about '18,' just make it through the 18 [weeks of the regular season], and then anything after that, we do during the playoffs. We play hard and we show up."

Smith said he added some weight during the offseason. He added that the past several training camp practices went well, and he has been getting back to game shape, pushing more weight in the weight room and running more.