HOUSTON – Dec. 30, 2024 – The United Football League today announced cornerback Damon Arnette has signed with the Houston Roughnecks for the 2025 UFL season. The United Football League announced Arnette’s signing as part of its latest transactions.
Damon Arnette was a three-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and initially committed to South Carolina but switched to Ohio State before his senior year. He redshirted his true freshman season in 2015 due to a bone chip in his tibia.
Over five years with Ohio State, including his redshirt year, Arnette played in 53 games, starting 38 at cornerback. He was part of three consecutive Big Ten Conference championship teams and played in four victories against Michigan.
At Ohio State, Arnette recorded five career interceptions, with one of the most notable being a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown against Indiana in 2019, which ranks as the fourth-longest interception return in Ohio State history. Arnette was named Second Team All-Big Ten in 2019. Additionally, he earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors in 2017 and 2018. Over his college career, he amassed 140 tackles, 27 passes defensed (including 22 pass break-ups), and those five interceptions. He played his senior season with a cast on one hand due to a hand injury.
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Arnette in the first round (19th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $13.42 million, which included a $7.32 million signing bonus. Over two seasons with the Raiders, Arnette played in 13 games, starting seven. His rookie year was marred by injuries; he was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury and later moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list. He began the 2021 season as a backup, but a groin injury put him on injured reserve once more.
Unfortunately, Arnette’s off-field behavior marred his time with the Raiders. He was released by the Raiders in November 2021 after a video surfaced showing him brandishing firearms and making threats. Additionally, he faced allegations of a hit-and-run incident from 2020 and subsequent legal issues, including arrests related to drug possession and firearms charges.
After being released by the Raiders, Arnette briefly joined the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad in December 2021 and then had a short stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has not played in an NFL game since 2021.
