Former NFL player Gosder Cherilus broke his silence on Monday after a dramatic incident on a Delta flight led to his arrest for disorderly conduct. The 40-year-old former offensive tackle was accused of urinating on a fellow passenger, forcing the flight from Boston to Dublin to be rerouted back to Logan Airport early Sunday morning.
The incident, which shocked passengers and crew alike, occurred after Cherilus allegedly engaged in what Massachusetts State Police described as “outrageous behavior.” Following the unexpected turn of events, Cherilus was detained at Logan Airport and later arraigned in East Boston Municipal Court on Monday.
In a brief statement, Cherilus apologized for his actions, attributing the bizarre episode to the effects of a sleeping medication he had taken before the overnight flight. “I’d like to address the media reports about me that surfaced today regarding a situation that occurred onboard a flight to Ireland this past weekend,” Cherilus wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The flight was unexpectedly delayed for approximately four hours, and it did not take off until after 12:30 AM. In preparation for the unexpected overnight flight, I took a sleeping medication that I don’t normally use, which resulted in behavior that is not representative of my character, and I would like to apologize to the passengers and flight crew.”
The trouble began when Delta’s aircrew requested assistance from the State Police at around 2 a.m. ET on Sunday, leading to the decision to divert the flight back to Boston due to Cherilus’s disruptive behavior. Once the plane landed, State Police troopers boarded the aircraft and instructed Cherilus to disembark. However, according to reports, the former NFL star was uncooperative and initially refused to leave, prompting the troopers to forcibly escort him off the plane.
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In a statement provided, Massachusetts State Police detailed the sequence of events: “Upon arrival at Terminal E, State Police Troop F and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel boarded the aircraft and identified the suspect as Gosder Cherilus, 40, of Wakefield. Troopers verbally commanded Cherilus to leave the plane, but he became irate and uncooperative. Eventually, Troopers escorted Cherilus to the jet bridge and placed him under arrest for Disorderly Conduct and Disturbing a Flight Crew.”
The disruption caused significant inconvenience to other passengers, as the flight was canceled and rebooked for the following night. Delta confirmed that the replacement flight landed in Dublin at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Monday morning. In a statement, the airline emphasized its commitment to safety and cooperation with law enforcement: “Delta flight 154 from Boston to Dublin on August 17 returned to Boston Logan due to an unruly customer and was met by law enforcement. Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful behavior and will cooperate with law enforcement to that end. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel.”
Cherilus, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions as the 17th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft after a standout collegiate career at Boston College, had a successful NFL career spanning nearly a decade. He played for the Lions, Indianapolis Colts, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, starting 116 of 132 games before retiring in 2016. Over the course of his career, Cherilus is believed to have earned more than $40 million, with his last contract—a two-year, $7 million deal—signed with the Buccaneers in 2015.
Since retiring from professional football, Cherilus has ventured into real estate, founding his own company, Bastion Companies. Despite his success off the field, this recent incident has cast a shadow over his post-NFL endeavors, drawing significant media attention and public scrutiny.
As the legal process unfolds, Cherilus’s future—both professionally and personally—remains uncertain.
