Former Oregon Ducks and Seattle Seahawks running back Derek Loville was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Wednesday for his involvement in an international drug trafficking ring based in Southern California, according to reports.
Loville, 48, was also fined $5,000 for his role in the drug operation led by Owen Hanson, a former walk-on tight end and volleyball player at the University of Southern California. Hanson was part of the USC football team in 2004.
Loville was one of 22 individuals sentenced in connection to Hanson’s offshore gambling and narcotics distribution network.
During his nine-year NFL career, Loville played for the Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos, winning three Super Bowls — one with the 49ers in 1995, and two with the Broncos in 1998 and 1999.
The report further revealed that Loville’s NFL career was plagued by over 20 concussions and various other injuries, which contributed to his addiction to painkillers. According to his attorney, Francisco Sanchez, Loville was prescribed medications like morphine, Vicodin, and OxyContin to manage his pain while playing. However, after his retirement, these prescriptions stopped, leading him to turn to medical marijuana and pain pills for relief. Sanchez noted that Loville now suffers from chronic pain, migraines, memory loss, depression, and irritability — symptoms increasingly associated with NFL concussion-related injuries.
Sanchez also revealed that Loville owed Hanson thousands of dollars from gambling debts incurred on Hanson’s website, which led to Loville’s involvement in selling drugs for him.
Additionally, it was reported that Loville sold two of his Super Bowl rings to settle gambling debts, and the third was stolen.