Eric Boggs
Former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, a key contributor to the Buckeyes’ 2014 national championship team, has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of his girlfriend in Tennessee, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest represents a devastating and deeply troubling turn for a player once celebrated for his rise from a central Ohio high school standout to a first-round NFL draft pick.
Deputies responded to a residence near Ooltewah Elementary School after receiving a call indicating CPR was being performed on an adult female. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Due to the condition of the residence and the victim, investigators determined the death was a homicide and identified Lee as the primary suspect. He was taken into custody Thursday, and the victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin. As with all criminal cases, these charges remain allegations until resolved in court.
For Ohio State fans, the news is jarring not only because of the severity of the allegations, but because of what Lee once represented. A New Albany High School star recruited by Luke Fickell, Lee arrived in Columbus in 2013, redshirted after an early injury, and transitioned from quarterback and defensive back into a linebacker molded for the college game. By 2014, he had become one of the most dynamic defenders on a loaded Buckeye roster, finishing the season with 81 tackles, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions, and multiple game-changing plays.
His breakout moment came late in the 2014 Michigan game, when a blitz led to a strip-sack by Joey Bosa, and a scoop-and-score touchdown by Lee that sealed a rivalry win and cemented his national profile. That postseason run only elevated his standing further. In Ohio State’s Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama, Lee was named Defensive MVP after recording seven tackles and two sacks, helping propel the Buckeyes toward a national championship. He followed with a solid, if less spectacular, 2015 season before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Lee was selected 20th overall by the New York Jets in the 2016 NFL Draft and appeared poised for a long professional career. He became a starter in New York by his second season, but that period also marked the beginning of recurring off-field concerns. A reported altercation with a woman in 2017 was the first public indication of personal issues that would continue to surface in subsequent years. After the 2018 season, Lee was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and later spent time with the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders, though his NFL career gradually faded. His final appearance in the league came in 2021.
Following his exit from professional football, Lee’s legal troubles escalated. In April 2023, he was arrested in Dublin, Ohio, and charged with two counts of domestic violence and two counts of assault. After failing to appear in court, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Later that year, he was also charged with cocaine possession. Court records indicate Lee avoided a domestic violence conviction through a plea deal reached in February 2025.
The current charges in Tennessee represent the most serious and tragic chapter in a pattern that has deeply saddened those who once cheered for him. From an Ohio State perspective, this is a moment that demands sobriety and empathy rather than deflection or denial. The Buckeye program can acknowledge Lee’s on-field contributions while also recognizing the profound gravity of the allegations and the loss of life at the center of this case.
Ohio State’s name will inevitably be attached to the coverage as the legal process unfolds, but this is not a reflection of the program so much as a reminder of how quickly lives can unravel without stability, accountability, and support beyond the game. For Buckeye fans, the appropriate response is compassion for the victim and her family, respect for the judicial process, and an understanding that athletic success does not insulate anyone from personal responsibility.
This is a tragic story by every measure, one that underscores the human cost behind the headlines. As the case moves forward, thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s loved ones, while the legal system determines the truth and consequences surrounding the allegations against a former Buckeye whose fall has been both public and heartbreaking.
