The Kansas City Chiefs are focused on getting the right rookies in the 2026 NFL draft, which takes place from April 23 to 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of the positions of need for the Chiefs is the edge role, and one of the players the team has entertained having in Kansas City has a bit of a controversial past.
Former Miami defensive end and top 2026 NFL draft prospect Rueben Bain Jr. was involved in a fatal automobile accident in 2024, where a passenger later died due to injuries resulting from the crash, according to a report and documents obtained by The Read Optional.
In the report, Bain was cited for careless driving, with the police report stating that Bain “operated his vehicle in a careless or negligent manner.” The incident took place around 4 a.m. local time on March 17, 2024, on Interstate 95 northbound in Miami, Florida. The woman who died was a 22-year-old Georgia woman, Destiny Betts.
Bain was cited when the accident occurred, but charges were dropped before Betts’ death, according to research from The Read Optional. Also, authorities didn’t give any sobriety tests, according to the crash report.
Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach Comments on Rueben Bain’s Accident
During a meeting with reporters on Thursday, April 16, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was asked if they knew about Bain’s past when they expressed interest in the edge. He was ready with an answer.
“First off, we were probably aware of that at the start of the season,” he told reporters, according to Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports. “We always get together and review top prospects at St. Joe before scouts leave… It’s our responsibility to do our diligence and vet each player.”
He added, “This is the most important part of our job, getting the player right. The whole body of work on the field, off the field. We spent a lot of time with him at the combine. We brought him here (and had) a lot of meetings with a lot of different people. That process is consistent with every player on our draft board.”
Kansas City Chiefs Knew of Draft Prospect’s Past
Peter Schrager of ESPN added, “Chiefs’ GM Brett Veach reveals he and his staff knew of the Rueben Bain, Jr. car accident before the start of the NFL season. Says they’ve spent a lot of time with Bain both at the Combine and when he visited the Chiefs building last Thursday on his 30 Visit.”
In a statement given to The Read Optional, Betts’ said the crash was a “tragic accident” and also stated that they “wish Mr. Bain the best as he continues his life and career.” At the time, Bain was going into his sophomore season.
Efstathios Savvidis of KC Kingdom has Bain down as the Chiefs’ No. 1 draft prospect. “After failing to address the need via free agency, they must desperately acquire help at the position in the draft,” he notes in the April 14 piece. “This year’s draft features several high-caliber pass-rushers, and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. is one of them.”
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