Jay Cutler Arrested For DUI, Gun Possession After Car Accident

7:40 AM PT -- Jay Cutler 's DUI arrested started with an afternoon car accident. According to law enforcement he allegedly rear-ended another vehicle, and when officers arrived they noticed a strong smell of booze. They also claim Cutler was slurring his words and had bloodshot eyes.

We're told he refused to take field sobriety tests, but cops took him to a hospital to get a blood sample. No word yet on what his BAC was. Cops say one of the 2 firearms in Cutler's vehicle was a loaded pistol.

Jay Cutler spent time in a Tennessee jail Thursday after he was busted for driving while intoxicated and gun possession ... TMZ has learned.

The former NFL star and ex-husband of Kristin Cavallari was arrested for DUI and 3 other offenses Thursday evening in the city of Franklin, TN. The other crimes were failure to exercise due care, violation of implied consent law, and possession of a handgun while under the influence.

Cutler was booked into the Williamson County Jail, where he posed for a scruffy mug shot -- and, as you can see, the dude doesn't look too happy. Jay posted $5,000 bond and was released later that night, according to a rep for the Franklin Police Department.

The implied consent violation refers to the requirement of all licensed drivers to submit to a blood or breath chemical test for alcohol or other substances. Refusing the test is a violation of the implied consent law.

The circumstances surrounding the bust are still a mystery, but we've reached out to the police to get details.

As you know, Jay was famously married to Cavallari for nearly a decade beginning in 2013, but they finalized their divorce in 2022. They starred in the popular reality show, "Very Cavallari," which followed their life in Nashville with their 3 children -- Camden , Jaxon , and Saylor .

During his 12 year NFL career, Cutler was a quarterback for the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins. He started his career with the Broncos in 2006 and retired from the Dolphins in 2017. In between, Cutler played for the Bears.

Story developing ...