Debra Darby Todd was arrested after authorities said the former Jets quarterback suffered cuts and abrasions during an argument at their Alabama home.
FLORENCE, Ala. — The wife of former New York Jets quarterback Richard Todd faces a felony domestic violence charge after authorities said she struck him several times with a pair of pliers during an argument at their Florence home.
Debra Darby Todd, 68, is charged with second-degree domestic violence assault in Lauderdale County. Court records cited by several news organizations say the confrontation happened shortly after 11 p.m. Nov. 9. Richard Todd, 72, suffered multiple cuts and abrasions to his arms but declined transportation to a hospital and did not require medical treatment, according to the records.
A complaint filed in Lauderdale County District Court alleges Debra Todd intentionally caused physical injury by striking her husband multiple times with the pliers during the argument. The filing describes the injuries but does not publicly establish what led to the dispute. Authorities have not announced a motive, and the charge remains an allegation that has not been proven in court.
Debra Todd was booked into the Lauderdale County Jail, where her bond was set at $30,000, according to court and jail information reported by local and national news outlets. Later reports said she no longer appeared in the jail’s active custody records, indicating she may have been released. Publicly available reports reviewed through Friday did not establish the terms of any release.
It also was not immediately clear from the available reporting whether Debra Todd had entered a plea or retained an attorney. No final disposition of the case had been reported. Details about statements made by either Richard or Debra Todd to investigators, beyond information contained in the court filing, also had not been publicly released.
Richard Todd was a prominent quarterback at the University of Alabama before beginning his professional career. He played under coach Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1973 through 1975 and was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference in 1975. The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame says Todd never lost a conference game during those three seasons and was also the most valuable player of the 1975 Sugar Bowl.
The New York Jets selected Todd with the sixth overall pick in the 1976 NFL draft, making him the first quarterback chosen that year. He spent most of his professional career with New York and also played for the New Orleans Saints. According to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Todd played 11 NFL seasons and led the Jets to their first winning season since 1969 in 1981.
Todd also guided New York to the AFC Championship Game following the 1982 season. His professional career included more than 20,000 passing yards and 124 touchdown passes. He later worked in investment banking and the securities industry and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame as part of its 1998 class.
The criminal case against Debra Todd remained pending as of Friday. No plea, trial result or other final court resolution had been publicly reported, and authorities had not released additional details explaining what preceded the alleged confrontation.
Author note: Last updated November 13, 2026.