Former Jets quarterback Richard Todd’s wife, Debra Todd, was arrested after an argument at the couple’s Lauderdale County home allegedly turned violent on Monday night, according to court documents obtained by 48 News. Debra was charged with domestic violence following the confrontation, as reported by The New York Post.

The documents allege that Debra struck Richard with a pair of pliers during the argument. Richard, 72, was left with multiple cuts on his arms, according to the records cited in the report.

Despite those injuries, Richard reportedly declined to go to the hospital. No additional details about the argument or the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident were included in the source.

The wife of former New York Jets and Alabama Crimson Tide QB Richard Todd was arrested for attacking him with pliers

https://t.co/qVbcVDj6yh— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) November 11, 2026

Debra, 68, was being held in the Lauderdale County Jail. Her bond was set at $30,000 following the arrest and domestic violence charge.

The arrest brought renewed attention to Richard’s lengthy football career, particularly his years as quarterback for the Jets. The team selected him with the No. 6 overall pick out of Alabama in the 1976 NFL Draft.

Richard followed Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Namath with the Jets. He ultimately played nine seasons for Gang Green, spending the years from 1976 through 1983 with the team before returning in 1986.

His strongest Jets seasons came in 1981 and 1982. Across those two seasons, including postseason games, the Jets compiled an 18-10-1 record.

That run included an appearance in the 1982 AFC Championship game against the Dolphins. The game became known as the “Mud Bowl” because it was played on a rainy and muddy field at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

The Dolphins defeated the Jets 14-0 in that championship matchup. Richard threw five interceptions during a game that remained one of his most prominent memories from his first eight professional seasons with the Jets.

Richard revisited the defeat during a 2022 interview, reflecting on both the conditions and the result. “I wish we’d’ve done better,” he said at the time, recalling that “muddy, nasty day” in Miami.

“The championship game. ‘The Mud Bowl.’ I threw five interceptions, and if they could’ve caught the ball, they could’ve had 10,” Richard said. His remarks placed much of his focus on his own performance during the loss.

He also praised the Jets defense and noted how difficult the conditions made passing the football. “We had a great defense, and that Miami game our defense played their hearts out. It wasn’t really a day to throw the ball.”

Richard then recalled several members of that Jets roster, including players from the famed Sack Exchange. “But we had a great team — the Sack Exchange, [Joe] Klecko and [Mark] Gastineau and Abdul Salaam and Marty [Lyons].”

He also named several of the offensive players from that Jets team. “And we had Wesley Walker, Jerome Barkum, Freeman McNeil, Bruce Harper.”

Across his professional career, Richard completed 1,610 of his 2,967 pass attempts. He finished with 20,610 passing yards, 124 touchdown passes and 161 interceptions.

Richard also contributed as a runner during his career. He recorded 932 rushing yards and scored 14 rushing touchdowns.

The account of Monday night’s alleged confrontation is based on the court documents obtained by 48 News. Those documents describe the alleged use of pliers, Richard’s cuts, his decision not to seek hospital treatment and Debra’s subsequent arrest.

Debra remained held on the $30,000 bond cited in the report. The source did not provide further information about the legal proceedings beyond the domestic violence charge and her detention in the Lauderdale County Jail.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Support Conservative Causes. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.