Former NFL running back and Super Bowl XLII champ Derrick Ward has been arrested on suspicion of a string of robberies across Los Angeles, officials confirmed. Ward, 43, was nabbed by police in the Van Nuys area and is being held on $250,000 bail for felony robbery charges, FOX News Digital reported.

According to law enforcement, though the ex-Giants player did not carry a firearm during these incidents, he allegedly used "force and fear" to coerce money from various businesses, which included gas stations, yet sources haven't disclosed how many locations were targeted or the amount pilfered during the alleged spree. TMZ Sports obtained this information, indicating the culprit was utilizing intimidation rather than weaponry in these crimes.

Ward's journey from a seventh-round pick by the New York Jets in the 2004 draft to NFL stardom with the Giants and subsequent stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans marks a stark contrast to his recent arrest records. During his time with the Giants, he was part of the "Earth, Wind and Fire" trio of running backs, contributing to the team’s underdog victory over the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Since retiring from professional football in 2012 after an eight-year career, Ward, who once inked a deal worth $17 million, has retreated far from the public’s memory, only to resurface in a less enviable spotlight, his post-football life taking a turn that fans and former teammates couldn't have anticipated, like his fame as an athlete, which included 93 NFL games and 15 total touchdowns, twelve of those on the ground, as reported by FOX News Digital.

Ward remains in custody, and details surrounding the allegations against the former Super Bowl champion continue to develop.