Former Hamilton County DA Hired to Defend Ex-NFL Player in Murder Trial - Articles

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Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Jul 10, 2026

Chattanooga native and Ex-NFL linebacker Darron Lee — who played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills — was indicted in June by a grand jury for the alleged murder of his girlfriend at their new home in Ooltewah. He is being held without bond in the Hamilton County Jail, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Lee now has hired former Hamilton County District Attorney (DA) Neal Pinkston as his defense lawyer, according to the paper. Sports news website Heavy.com reports that Pinkston spent eight years as Hamilton County’s district attorney before returning to private practice after losing his 2022 re-election bid to current DA Coty Wamp. He replaces public defender Mike Little, who represented Lee through his earlier appearances. Lee’s next court date is scheduled for Oct. 8.