Former
Atlanta Falcons star running back Jamal Anderson, who played a pivotal role in the team’s first
Super Bowl run in 1998, was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Speaking to Dennis Broad and Jonathan Lloyd of NBC4 Investigates, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that Jamal Anderson was arrested at a home in the San Fernando Valley “on suspicion of felony domestic violence.”
Per
NBC4 Investigates, officers arrested Anderson after responding to an argument at around 11:00 a.m. local time. Anderson allegedly strangled the victim after “a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation.”
The victim declined treatment after paramedics arrived on the scene, per the report, and Anderson was released after posting a $50,000 bond.
Sadly, Jamal Anderson has had multiple run-ins with the law since retiring from football. He was arrested for possessing cocaine and driving under the influence in 2009 and 2012, respectively.
In December 2016, Anderson made headlines when he was banned from a QuikTrip store in Gwinnett County, Georgia, after allegedly exposing himself and appearing drunk. Though he wasn’t arrested over the incident, Anderson was warned that he would be if he returned to the specific store location.
Anderson was also arrested in December 2018 for refusing to pay a limo driver $50, though the latter declined to press charges.
Jamal Anderson Is Fifth On Falcons’ All-Time Rushing Leaderboard
17 Jan 1999: Jamal Anderson #32 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates after winning the NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings at the H. H. H. Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Falcons defeated the Vikings 30-27 in overtime. (Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport)
Jamal Anderson became one of the NFL’s most popular running backs in the ’90s, thanks largely to his signature “Dirty Birds” touchdown celebration dance.
Anderson earned
Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro honors in 1998 after rushing for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns, both career bests. The Falcons stunned the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game to reach their first Super Bowl, where they were dispatched by the
Denver Broncos.
Jamal Anderson retired after the 2021 season and sits fifth all-time on the Falcons’ career rushing leaderboard with 5,336. Ahead of him are Gerald Riggs (6,631), Michael Turner (6,081), William Andrews (5,986) and Warrick Dunn (5,981).