#4: Ray Rice
In February 2014, the sports world was rocked by the shocking arrest of Ray Rice on domestic violence charges, a development that left fans and teammates dumbfounded. For those who had known Rice as a popular and image-conscious figure, this abrupt turn of events seemed to come out of nowhere, as reported in a Baltimore Sun article. Initially, he faced a two-game suspension and a fine, but the real bombshell dropped seven months later when damning video footage surfaced.
The security camera footage, captured within a hotel, provided undeniable evidence of Rice assaulting his then-fiancee. In the aftermath, Rice pursued a legal battle against the Ravens, alleging wrongful termination, which eventually resulted in a settlement. While he made a few attempts to resurrect his football career, they yielded no tangible results.