Former Vikings CB Jeff Gladney found not guilty on assault charge

Former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Jeff Gladney was found not guilty of assault on Thursday, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Gladney was arrested in April, three days after his former girlfriend said that he had assaulted her both in a car and at their apartment complex. The woman then filed a civil lawsuit, and a grand jury indicted him on a domestic violence by impeding breathing charge for “intentionally, knowingly and recklessly” causing bodily injury and applying pressure to her neck and throat.

The altercation allegedly took place first in a car after Gladney reportedly got upset about texts on the woman’s phone. She said that he then started hitting her, and then continued to assault her once they returned home to their apartment complex.

Gladney turned himself into police last April after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The 25-year-old was facing up to 10 years in prison.

The Vikings released Gladney shortly after he was indicted. The former TCU standout, who the Vikings took with the No. 31 overall pick in 2020, had 81 total tackles in 15 games during his rookie season.

It’s unclear if Gladney will make a return to the league. The NFL said on Thursday that it has “been monitoring all developments in the matter, which remains under review of the personal conduct policy.”