49ers: History of arrested players dating back to 2012

Linebacker Reuben Foster becomes the latest San Francisco 49ers player to be arrested, contributing to an unsettling trend dating back to 2012. Here’s the history the Niners have had to deal with.

Last Sunday, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was arrested in Los Gatos, California on charges of both domestic violence and possession of an assault rifle, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News.

This was Foster’s second arrest of the offseason, the first stemming from second-degree marijuana possession in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in January.

Foster’s most recent arrest marks the 17th such case the Niners have dealt with since 2012, according to USA Today’s NFL player arrest database, which is unfortunately the most for any NFL team over that time frame.

Here’s the breakdown of each of those arrest and what ended up happening with each player.

San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Linebacker Aldon Smith

Jun. 12, 2012 — DUI, charge reduced to reckless driving.
Sept. 20, 2013 — DUI and marijuana possession, pleaded no contest.
Oct. 9, 2013 — Felony weapons possession, pleaded no contest. Sentenced to three years’ probation and 235 hours of community service from this and Sept. 20 arrest.
Apr. 13, 2014 — Disorderly conduct, case dropped.
Aug. 6, 2015 — Hit-and-run DUI, undetermined resolution.

Aldon Smith’s numerous issues led to his eventual release on Aug. 7, 2015. Smith subsequently signed with the Oakland Raiders but was suspended for an entire year in November. He has yet to be reinstated by the NFL.

Defensive End Ray McDonald

Feb. 8, 2012 — Outstanding warrant from a drunk driving case back in 2010.
Aug. 30, 2014 — Domestic violence, charge dropped.

Ray McDonald was subsequently released by the 49ers in December of 2014 after the team learned he was under investigation on suspicion of sexual assault. McDonald later signed on with the Chicago Bears but was released after charges of domestic violence and child endangerment were filed in May 2015.

Defensive End Demarcus Dobbs

Nov. 30, 2012 — DUI, undetermined resolution.

Demarcus Dobbs played all of the 2013 season and part of 2014 with the Niners before being waived. He signed on with the Seattle Seahawks for the latter half of 2014 through the following year.

Offensive Guard Al Netter

Feb. 20, 2013 — DUI, undetermined resolution.

Al Netter never saw a regular-season game with the Niners, eventually being released in August of 2014.

Center Daniel Kilgore

Jan. 26, 2014 — Public intoxication, charge dropped.

Daniel Kilgore’s lone incident in 2014 didn’t create much of a stir, and he’s remained a starter for the 49ers through 2017.

Cornerback Chris Culliver

Mar. 28, 2014 — Reckless driving, felony weapon possession. Pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges and sentenced to 40 hours community service, served one-game NFL-mandated suspension.

Chris Culliver played 14 games with the 49ers that season before signing on with the Washington Redskins as a free agent in 2015. He saw limited action with the Redskins that year, eventually signing with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 but was released that October.

Fullback/Tight End Bruce Miller

Mar. 5, 2015 — Domestic violence, pleaded no contest.
Sept. 5, 2016 — Assault, undetermined resolution.

Bruce Miller’s violent arrests, especially the Sept. 5 assault on a 70-year-old man and his son in San Francisco, led to the Niners releasing him the day of the second incident. He hasn’t played a down in the NFL since.

TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 15: Fullback Bruce Miller #49 of the San Francisco 49ers runs upfield against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers December 15, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /

Linebacker Ahmad Brooks

Aug. 26, 2015 — Sexual battery, indicted and with unknown resolution.

Ahmad Brooks was involved in a case from December 2014 along with McDonald, although the former remained with the 49ers until being released after the 2017 preseason. He subsequently signed on with the Green Bay Packers, playing the entirety of the season.

Cornerback Tramaine Brock

Apr. 6, 2017 — Domestic violence, charges dropped.

Tramaine Brock ended up being released by the 49ers a day after they learned of the alleged domestic violence incident. Brock subsequently signed with the Minnesota Vikings, and his charges have since been dropped due to lack of evidence.

Linebacker Reuben Foster

Jan. 12, 2018 — Marijuana possession, undetermined resolution.
Feb. 11, 2018 — Domestic violence, felony weapons possession.

Foster’s second arrest in as many months certainly will prompt the 49ers to make a tough decision. If they do allow him to stay on the roster, the NFL will launch an investigation and likely hand down a six-game suspension under the league’s domestic violence policy.

Under the NFL’s domestic violence policy, players are given a six-game suspension for a first incident and a lifetime ban for a second incident. It’s not known if Foster will face league discipline for his arrest in January for marijuana possession in Alabama. #49ers
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) February 12, 2018

Foster is one of the Niners’ most promising players, ranked by Pro Football Focus the No. 4 overall linebacker from 2017. San Francisco’s first-round pick from last year saw his NFL Draft stock fall, though, primarily due to both injury and off-field concerns.

Those concerns have surely come to the forefront of the 49ers’ offseason.

San Francisco’s new front office, consisting of general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, will surely want to usher in a different era not involving arrests and off-field concerns.

Next: 49ers need to part ways with linebacker Reuben Foster

How they handle Foster’s incident will certainly make a statement about what direction the franchise is heading.

San Francisco 49ers: History of arrested players dating back to 2012

By Peter Panacy | Feb 11, 2018