Pittsburgh Steelers legend Hines Ward had ONE concern during his DUI arrest last summer ... the media finding out about it -- this according to police dash cam footage obtained by TMZ.
During the tape, Ward asks one of the arresting officers, "This gonna be all over the newspaper now?" The officer replies, "Only if you tell somebody."
DUI is no laughing matter -- but there is one funny moment, when Hines was sitting in the back of the squad car and the officer slammed on the brake ... sending Ward's forehead into the plastic divider.
TMZ broke the story -- Ward was arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia last July after a police officer observed the football star failing to maintain lane in his Aston Martin ... and hitting a curb.
The DUI charge was eventually dropped as part of a plea bargain last month -- when Ward pled guilty to reckless driving instead ... and was sentenced to a year probation.