Jets' Dylan Donahue voluntarily enters treatment facility

ByRich Cimini ESPN logo
Tuesday, March 20, 2018

New York Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue, arrested twice in the last 10 months on drunk driving charges, voluntarily checked into a treatment facility after a car wreck last month in the Lincoln Tunnel, ESPN has learned.

"Dylan recognizes the seriousness of these issues and has voluntarily taken some important initial steps to deal with them," Donahue's agent, Gary Uberstine, said in a statement to ESPN. "He is committed to this process of self-improvement, appreciates people respecting his privacy as he works to get healthy, and will address this matter publicly at an appropriate time."

The Jets are aware that Donahue has entered a treatment facility.

"We respect and support Dylan's decision to seek treatment," the team said in a statement to ESPN. "It is important for him to focus on his health right now. The organization has a full support system in place when he is ready to return."

The organization took a similar approach with former tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who had a DUI arrest in 2016 and sought treatment in January 2017. Seferian-Jenkins, currently with the Jacksonville Jaguars, credited the Jets' support system with helping him achieve sobriety.

Donahue sought help after a Feb. 26 incident in which he allegedly drove the wrong way through the Lincoln Tunnel and collided with an oncoming passenger bus.

The previous DUI arrest occurred May 9, 2017, in Billings, Montana, his hometown -- nine days after he was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round.

The arrest wasn't reported by the news media until Monday. It's unclear whether the Jets had prior knowledge.

According to authorities, Donahue, 25, drove into a parked, unoccupied pickup truck at 2:25 a.m. in Billings. His SUV flipped and was on its roof when police arrived. Donahue and an unidentified male passenger suffered minor injuries. His blood alcohol level was tested at 0.137, according to the Billings city attorney. The legal limit is 0.08.

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