Reuben Bain Jr. Faces Past as NFL Draft Approaches

It’s a tragic reality. The car crash that Reuben Bain Jr. was involved in back in 2024 resulted in one of his passengers slipping into a coma, eventually leading to that passenger’s death a few months later. It’s something that, understandably, many wish had never occurred.

Bain seems to be trying to move past this incident as he approaches the NFL Draft. In the time since his last season at the University of Miami, he has focused on maintaining his future prospects as the first round approaches.

On Wednesday, Bain participated in a community event ahead of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, where he joined other top prospects at the dedication of a local field. After the event, the media questions began, and it wasn’t long before someone brought up the crash.

When asked whether the accident would impact his draft standing, Bain responded, “I won’t answer questions about that.” He was pressed further but remained firm, stating, “I have no answer to that.” His reluctance to discuss the incident has been noted before; even during the NFL Combine, he avoided the topic with various teams.

This reluctance hasn’t gone unnoticed. Some executives reportedly had concerns due to his evasive responses.

In terms of legal matters, Bain has dismissed the claims against him and has reached a settlement with the other driver. The family of the deceased, Destiny Betts, has also released supportive statements regarding Bain. All teams that interviewed him were already aware of the incident, including the Kansas City Chiefs, who have the ninth overall pick.

Kansas City’s general manager, Brett Veach, commented that they had been aware of the incident from earlier in the season. “It obviously happened a few years ago,” he mentioned, emphasizing the importance of conducting thorough assessments of players’ backgrounds as part of their responsibilities. Veach noted that each situation is unique, but understanding both on-field and off-field behavior remains paramount in their evaluations.

Interestingly, the Chiefs have shown considerable interest in edge rushers ahead of the draft. Veach indicated that they had spent significant time with Bain during the Combine and in meetings. There’s a systematic approach to evaluating all players they consider.

However, Bain’s past continues to loom large. Despite his efforts to maintain silence on the matter, the reality is that if he doesn’t meet expectations in the draft, the incident may become a point of scrutiny.

No matter where he’s picked, it’s likely that journalists will dig into the April 2024 crash, leading to more questions for Bain that he may choose not to answer. While he has every right to keep certain matters private, it’s clear that the past isn’t just going to disappear. Without acknowledgment, it remains an underlying issue that could follow him into his NFL career.