When Tom Benson bought the New Orleans Saints in 1985, he quickly became one of the NFL’s most recognizable owners. His early moves—hiring GM Jim Finks and coach Jim Mora—turned the struggling franchise into a winner, delivering its first-ever playoff berth in 1986. For decades, Benson was the face of the Saints, beloved for his fiery sideline antics and deep ties to the city.

In the early 2000s, his granddaughter, Rita Benson LeBlanc, stepped into the family business. Rita took on key roles with the Saints and later the Pelicans. For years, she seemed destined to inherit the teams—until 2012, when Benson suspended her, citing her “sense of entitlement.” By 2015, he cut her out entirely, handing control to his wife, Gayle. The messy family feud made headlines, but LeBlanc remained a partial owner after a legal settlement. Now, years later, her name is back in the news. But not for the reasons anyone expected.

What you should know about Rita Benson LeBlanc!

Rita grew up in the shadow of the Saints, thanks to her grandfather, the legendary Tom Benson. As the daughter of Renee Benson and Russell LeBlanc, she was practically raised in the Superdome, interning with the team while still in high school. After college, she jumped straight into the family business, learning the ropes from the ground up. By 2003, she was handed the reins of the New Orleans VooDoo, Benson’s Arena Football League team. And quickly earned a reputation as a sharp, hands-on executive, even being named the league’s top boss.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Rita stepped into a bigger spotlight. She took on more responsibility as the Saints worked to rebuild the city’s spirit along with their franchise. For years, she seemed like the obvious heir to Benson’s sports empire. But things took a sharp turn in 2015 when her grandfather shocked everyone by cutting her out of the succession plan, handing control to his wife, Gayle, instead.

Rita fought back, filing a lawsuit that accused Benson of being unfit to manage his teams—a claim he called baseless. The legal battle was messy, personal, and very public, ending in a settlement that left her with a partial stake but no real power. Once seen as the future of the Saints, her story took a twist few saw coming.

For years after the legal battle, Rita kept a low profile—until now. Just when it seemed her time in the headlines was over, she’s found herself in hot water again. This time, far from the football field.

Why was Rita Benson arrested?

The latest chapter in Rita’s story reads more like a police blotter than a sports page. On June 16, things got ugly in Charleston when she crossed paths with a parking officer trying to boot her car. Witnesses say things escalated fast – there was pushing, shouting, and at one point, Rita allegedly grabbed the officer’s boot tool right out of their hands. Now she’s facing serious charges that could land her in real trouble. A world away from her old life, making decisions in luxury boxes and boardrooms.

She spent the night in jail before posting bond, but the drama didn’t stop there. Now with the July 24 court date looming, everyone’s wondering: Could this finally sever her last connections to the Saints? It’s a bitter twist for the woman who once had the NFL world at her feet, only to watch her inheritance vanish before her eyes.

The parking lot incident might seem minor compared to her past legal battles, but it perfectly captures LeBlanc’s fall from grace, from managing million-dollar contracts to wrestling over, perhaps, around $50 parking ticket. That boot-locking tool she allegedly grabbed becomes almost symbolic; where she once controlled franchise decisions, she’s now reduced to struggling over who controls her car.

What happens next depends on Charleston’s courts and possibly the NFL’s front office decisions.