Columbus Aviators Lose After Coach Ted Ginn Jr.'s DWI Arrest

Aviators fall to 0-3 on the season after losing 28-23 to the Dallas Renegades

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:41pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented and overlapping scenes of a football game, conveying the chaotic and tumultuous nature of the Aviators' season so far.The Aviators' struggles on the field and off-the-field incident with their head coach have created a challenging start to the franchise's inaugural season.Columbus Today

The Columbus Aviators lost 28-23 to the Dallas Renegades in their Week 3 matchup of the United Football League (UFL) season. The loss comes a day after Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. was charged with driving while intoxicated in Texas. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley stepped in as interim head coach for the game.

Why it matters

The Aviators' loss drops them to 0-3 on the season, tied for last place in the UFL standings. The off-field incident with their head coach adds further turmoil to the young franchise's inaugural season struggles.

The details

Despite outgaining the Renegades in total yards, the Aviators were hurt by turnovers, including two interceptions thrown by quarterback Jalen McClendon. The Renegades capitalized on the Aviators' miscues, scoring 14 points off turnovers including a pick-six. The Aviators made a late comeback attempt in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell short.

  • On April 11, Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. was charged with driving while intoxicated in Tarrant County, Texas.
  • The game against the Renegades took place on April 12.

The players

Ted Ginn Jr.

The head coach of the Columbus Aviators who was charged with driving while intoxicated a day before the team's Week 3 game.

Todd Haley

The Aviators' offensive coordinator who stepped in as interim head coach for the game against the Renegades.

Jalen McClendon

The Aviators' starting quarterback who threw two interceptions in the loss.

John Lovett

The Aviators' running back who scored two touchdowns in the game.

Austin Reed

The Renegades' starting quarterback.

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What’s next

The Aviators have not announced if Ginn Jr. will be available to coach the team's next game against the Renegades at home on April 17.

The takeaway

The Aviators' 0-3 start and the off-field incident with their head coach have created a challenging situation for the young franchise in its inaugural UFL season. The team will need to regroup quickly to try and turn things around and avoid falling further behind in the standings.