While most people know that a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction can penalize you with high fines, jail time, and a suspension of your driver’s license, not many understand that it could also cost a career. New York Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue’s story serves as a reminder of this fact to the rest of us.
Back in February of 2018, Donahue was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after being in a crash inside the Lincoln Tunnel, which connects New Jersey to New York under the water. He recently pleaded guilty in a New Jersey court of the crime, doing so to gain a plea deal from the prosecution.
The footballer’s license was suspended, and he was sentenced to mandatory ignition interlock device (IID) installation for an entire year once he got his license back. It is not known at this time if other penalties, like fines and jail time, were included in the plea deal, but it is known that a total of three criminal charges were dropped as a result.
He is also caught in the middle of another DUI case all the way up in Montana. In 2017, he was arrested for drunk driving after causing an accident. He apparently has negotiated another plea deal with Montanan prosecutors, who approved a $1,000 penalty and a three-month driver’s license suspension.
What might not be possible to protect with a plea deal, though, is his budding NFL career. Players in the NFL, especially relative newcomers like Donahue, have been removed from drafts in the past due to criminal convictions, including DUIs. There has been no official statement from the NFL regarding potential administrative punishments. To try to curb his reckless behavior and boost his chances of staying in the NFL, Donahue has reportedly begun voluntary alcohol addiction treatments and therapies.

Get Powerful Legal Representation When Accused of a DUI
The story of Dylan Donahue tells us that DUI convictions can cause significant ripple effects into all aspects of your life. In order to make certain your rights are protected and you are not mistreated or disrespected by the criminal justice system, you need a leading DUI lawyer by your side from start to finish. At Keefer Law Firm PLLC, you can work with a Harrisonburg DUI and traffic ticket lawyer with more than 40 years of legal experience and a history of successful case results. Would you like to begin your defense case now? Contact us to ask for a free consultation.