The hunt for a former National Football League quarterback who was on the run from US authorities has ended after the State Department confirmed that he was killed in a car crash in Greece this week, it was revealed yesterday.

William “Jeff” Komlo, who played for the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over five NFL seasons between 1979 and 1983, has been wanted since failing to show up in court in the USA in July 2005 for sentencing following two drunken driving convictions.

Komlo also skipped a hearing in May 2005 after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. While a fugitive, Komlo was additionally investigated for fires at his home in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, and another house in Florida.

After running fingerprint checks, the State Department confirmed that the 52-year-old was killed in a crash on Saturday.