Former NFL Player Ordered Hand Over His Championship Ring
A judge has ordered former St. Louis Rams defensive end Chidi Ahanotu to surrender the championship ring he won after the 2002 NFC title game to his ex-wife. Lawyers are trying to get the ring in order to pay more than $130,000 in legal fees owed by the former football player or face the risk of being jailed for contempt of court.
“This court system is a farce,” Ahanotu said. “This court wants a man to hand over his once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment to pay some damn attorney’s fees? I could see if it was going to pay something for my children or my ex-wife.”
Ahanotu reportedly tried to protect the ring, telling Circuit Judge Elizabeth Rice that he gave it to his brother to settle a $30,000 debt but the judge wasn’t buying it. In September, he said he couldn’t afford to pay his ex-wife the $130,000 in legal fees over a custody battle.
Ahanotu spent 12 years in the NFL, playing with the Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.



