University of Oregon football coach Ra'Shaad Samples was cited for driving under the influence of intoxicants after backing his truck into a parked vehicle on April 12 in Eugene, according to newly released dashcam footage and crash reports.
Samples, 31, backed his 2026 Ford F-150 into Steven James Young's Dodge Ram at 2 a.m. before driving away from the scene of the low-speed collision. He was not arrested at the time but was cited for misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) in lieu of custody.
"I did not realize I backed into anything until I pulled away," Samples said Tuesday in a statement provided to The Oregonian by his lawyer.
Dashcam footage recorded by Young shows his low-speed pursuit of Samples through the streets of Eugene to flag him down. Samples is seen pulling through a red light before turning into a parking lot to discuss the fender bender.
The ensuing exchange was not captured on video, but details were documented in the crash report as well as text messages and recorded phone calls reported by The Oregonian. Reporting indicates Samples tried to buy Young's silence and gave a false name, which Samples now claims was a joke.
Disputed Exchange in Parking Lot
After parking, Samples reportedly attempted to shake hands with Young, who waved him off and began taking photos of the damage. Young said Samples offered him $1,000 to walk away from the scene.
"I was like, no," Young told The Oregonian. "I was like, 'I've got kids in the car. I've got minors in the car. Let's do this right. Let's do this correct.'"
The two drivers exchanged phone numbers for insurance information, but Young grew suspicious after Samples identified himself as "Deshaun [DeSean] Jackson."
"He told me his name was [DeSean] Jackson," Young said. "Me and my buddy looked it up the next day, and we were like, 'That's not him.'
Samples disputed Young's version of the interaction through his attorney. "After I pulled over and stopped, I gave the driver my license and insurance," Samples told The Oregonian. "I gave him my information that included my name. He kept asking me, 'Who are you? Who are you?' He had my name. I got a little frustrated, and I gave him a cheeky response. 'DeSean Jackson.'"
Samples added that Jackson, the former Philadelphia Eagles receiver, is his favorite football player.
Contact With Head Coach and Legal Actions
When Young threatened to send dashcam video of the crash to Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, Samples asked him not to and later offered him game tickets, according to reporting by The Oregonian.
"If I can do something for your family, if there's a game, if there's anything I can do bro," Samples told Young in a phone call days later. "It would make me feel better if I've shown some appreciation, if you ever need it."
Samples did not deny offering tickets but stated through his attorney that he routinely gives game tickets to people he meets. "While I saw no damage to his vehicle, I offered to pay for any damage," Samples said. "I don't remember offering him any game tickets. I routinely give people game tickets. If I meet someone who wants to go to a game, I give them tickets. I don't believe I've ever told someone no."
Young emailed Lanning on the morning of April 12 stating he had the entire incident on dashcam and accusing Samples of leaving the crash scene. Samples later called Young to ask him not to share the video with the head coach.
"I'm gonna have to explain it and have a conversation with him," Samples told Young, according to The Oregonian. "But having that emailed to him, he has that. … Giving him that video is telling him he has to do something with it."
While no injuries were initially reported following the crash, that has since changed after Young and one passenger hired attorneys, according to The Oregonian.
The Daily Mail has sought comment from Samples and Ducks spokespeople.
Samples, a Dallas native, is a former Oklahoma State and University of Houston wide receiver. He previously coached at Southern Methodist University, Arizona State University, and the NFL's Los Angeles Rams.
