Tulane quarterback TJ Finley found himself in legal trouble once again, as he was arrested Wednesday for the illegal possession of stolen goods valued at $25,000. The university swiftly responded by suspending him, stating that the length of his suspension would depend on the case’s outcome. However, this isn’t Finley’s first run-in with the law.
TJ Finley Gets Busted for a Stolen Car
University police stumbled upon the stolen vehicle while responding to a complaint about a truck obstructing a driveway. Upon inspecting the license plate, officers discovered it had been reported stolen in Atlanta.
Finley appeared to move the truck and he attempted to clear the situation, claiming he had recently purchased the truck. However, with legal proceedings now set, he will have to appear in court on June 1. The quarterback had just committed to the Tulane Green Wave after a stint with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in 2024.
Tulane QB TJ Finley arrested on charges connected to a stolen car…
Details: https://t.co/bW4kGIu5NZ pic.twitter.com/Zj9TXUidKe
— On3 (@On3sports) April 3, 2025
Before his arrest, Finley was locked in a battle for Tulane’s starting quarterback job, competing against Kadin Semonza and Donovan Leary during spring practice. His collegiate career started at LSU Tigers, spent two seasons with Auburn Tigers, and then made a stop at Texas State Bobcats in 2023.
Finley’s best season came with the Bobcats, where he lit up the field with 3,439 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. But just as he was gearing up for his final year of eligibility with the Tulane Green Wave, his future now hangs in the balance.
Finley Was Also Arrested in 2022
Back on Aug. 4, 2022, he found himself in hot water for eluding the police. According to AL.com, the quarterback was pulled over for not wearing a helmet while riding a moped, a Class A misdemeanor, but instead of stopping, he took off. Once he learned an arrest warrant had been issued in his name, Finley ultimately turned himself in.
Now, he’s again behind bars regarding a vehicle offense. Tulane’s head coach Jon Sumrall has broken his silence regarding Finley’s recent arrest. He stated that he can’t reveal much legally, however, he stands in solidarity with University’s decision, whatever it will be.
“Legally, I can’t. I’m not in a position to be able to dive into it,” Sumrall said, via Fox 8 in New Orleans.
Tulane coach Jon Sumrall gives a statement on the suspension of QB TJ Finley from the football program.
Finley was arrested for illegally possessing a stolen item worth more than $25,000. According to court documents, he told authorities he had just bought the car from Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/B7pmITKusP
— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) April 3, 2025
“You know, when things happen off the field, it’s unfortunate. And I’ll let the statement say for what it is. When guys make mistakes, then we have to have accountability,” he added.
In response to Finley’s arrest, Tulane University announced his suspension. In an official statement, the university emphasized that the length of his suspension will depend on the legal proceedings ahead.
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“We are aware of a situation involving TJ Finley,” Tulane officials said in a prepared statement. “He has been suspended from the football program pending the outcome of the case. Due to federal laws governing student privacy, we will not disclose any additional information regarding the student, including information related to the disciplinary proceedings.”
For now, Finley remains sidelined, with Tulane keeping him suspended until his June 1 court hearing. Until then, all eyes will be on the courtroom.
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