Why was Jay Cutler arrested? New Details Released on DUI Charges – NBC Chicago

New details have been released after former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was arrested on drunken driving and other charges on Thursday.

According to police, officers were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash in the 200 block of Bridge Street in Franklin, Tennessee, around 5 p.m.

There, a driver told police that Cutler hit him from behind.

“During their conversation with Cutler, officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol,” the Franklin Police Department said in a statement. “Cutler also had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. Cutler refused a field sobriety test and was taken to a local hospital where a blood sample was collected via a blood search warrant.”

According to an affidavit obtained by NBC News, the driver told authorities that Cutler offered him $2,000 if he didn't call police and tried to flee the scene before officers arrived.

Authorities said police also found a loaded handgun and a rifle in Cutler's vehicle.

Cutler, 41, who lives in Franklin, was arrested on driving under the influence and other charges including possession of a handgun while under the influence, failure to exercise care in avoiding a collision and implied consent, authorities said.

He was booked into the Williamson County Jail and given a $5,000 bond. He was released later Thursday evening, police said.

Cutler played twelve seasons in the NFL and spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Bears. He was released by the team after the 2016 season and played one more year for the Miami Dolphins before retiring from football.

He was previously married to reality TV star Kristin Cavallari, but the couple announced their divorce in 2020. The couple has three children aged 12 and under.

In his retirement, Cutler made headlines by documenting some of his farm life in Tennessee and participating in a number of Bears assignments.

In 2021, he revealed that he was suffering from some symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, better known as CTE.

Check back for more on this developing story.