The Los Angeles Chargers have released guard Ben Cleveland following his July 16 arrest in Oconee County, Georgia. The arrest involved misdemeanor charges for speeding and an alleged violation of conditions related to a limited driving permit.
Cleveland, 27, was booked into county jail and released less than two hours later. This incident comes just weeks after the arrest and shortly after the Chargers signed him in January. He did not play a single snap for the team before his release.
This latest legal issue adds to a series of off-field problems for Cleveland over the past year. He was previously released by the Baltimore Ravens on January 1, 2026, after being suspended for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The suspension, which began on December 8, 2025, followed months of personal turmoil.
In February 2025, Cleveland filed for divorce from his wife, Kaitlyn Terrell Cleveland, citing adultery. According to reports, she vehemently denied these claims, stating they were made in bad faith. The divorce filing occurred two weeks after a DUI arrest in Milledgeville, Georgia, on February 12, 2025. He reportedly admitted to consuming "approximately 3-4 beers" before driving.
Cleveland was originally selected by the Ravens in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. He played all five of his NFL seasons with the team before his release.