Antonio Brown avoids prison with guilty plea to reduced charge
The former NFL wide receiver accepted a three-year probation deal, dropping his initial attempted murder charge in a Miami shooting.
By Sarah Montgomery ·
Antonio Brown will serve three years of probation instead of prison time after pleading guilty Friday in Miami state court. The former NFL star accepted a reduced charge of aggravated assault with a firearm in connection with a shooting incident. Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez imposed the sentence, which includes weekly counseling sessions and a ban on possessing firearms.
Brown entered the plea on Friday, November 6, 2026. He appeared in a black leather jacket and white pants. During the brief proceedings, he spoke in a low voice, prompting the judge to ask him to raise his volume. Outside the courtroom, he thanked God and stated his desire to return to his family. His attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, said the legal team was extremely grateful the case was resolved.
Eiglarsh noted that Brown faced a 30-year prison sentence with a 20-year minimum mandatory term before the plea deal. The lawyer described the offer as one his client could not refuse. Eiglarsh said, "Probation was too good to turn down, and we're both very excited about the outcome." The reduced charge allows Brown to avoid both prison time and a criminal conviction.
Brown was originally charged with attempted murder. Police said he shot a man after a fistfight earlier that day. Brown, 38, claimed he was protecting himself from an attack while others tried to steal jewelry from him. Florida's Stand Your Ground law permits the use of deadly force by individuals who believe they face death or serious injury, without a duty to retreat.
Brown played 12 years in the NFL, spending the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 while playing alongside quarterback Tom Brady. His career ended effectively the following season when he removed his gear and ran off the field during a game. The Buccaneers released him after that incident.
The wide receiver has faced other legal issues in recent years. He was previously accused of battery on a moving truck driver and faced domestic violence charges. He also struggled with failure to pay child support and other incidents. Brown was extradited from Dubai in November 2025, where he holds business interests, after a June 2025 arrest warrant was issued.
The court scheduled Brown for weekly counseling sessions as part of his probation conditions. The next step in his legal process involves complying with these terms to avoid returning to court for a breach of probation.
