Ex-NFL receiver Antonio Brown pleads guilty to reduced charge, gets probation
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The gist
Former NFL star Antonio Brown pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a firearm in a 2025 Miami shooting.
The deal avoids prison and a conviction, clearing his return to public events.
Background
Antonio Brown is a former NFL wide receiver, 38, who spent 12 years in the league, most of it with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. He was accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match in Miami in May 2025 and firing two shots at a man he had fought earlier; he was charged with attempted murder and later extradited from Dubai. On Nov 6, 2026, Miami Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez accepted his guilty plea to the reduced charge of aggravated assault with a firearm and sentenced him to three years of probation.
How it unfolded
- May 16, 2025Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match in Miami and firing two shots at a man he had fought earlier.
- Jun 2025An arrest warrant on an attempted murder charge is issued.
- Sep 23, 2026Brown's lawyer says Brown planned to accept a plea deal on the attempted murder charge that avoids prison, with a court appearance set for the following Wednesday.
- Oct 7, 2026Brown is expected to accept a plea deal in the Miami attempted murder case, his attorney says.
- Nov 6, 2026Brown pleads guilty in Miami state court to aggravated assault with a firearm, a reduced charge; Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez sentences him to three years of probation with weekly counseling, no firearm possession, no contact with the victim, and a psychological evaluation with treatment if necessary.
- Nov 27, 2026Brown is set to serve as the Terrible Tailgate Guest when the Steelers host the Denver Broncos on Black Friday in Week 12.
Key terms
- aggravated assault
- A criminal assault made more serious by factors such as use of a weapon or intent to cause severe harm.
- probation
- A court-ordered period of supervision of an offender as an alternative to incarceration, requiring compliance with set conditions.
- plea deal
- A legal arrangement where a defendant pleads guilty in exchange for concessions from the prosecutor.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Defense
- Attorney Mark Eiglarsh says Brown faced 30 years with a 20-year mandatory minimum and got an offer he couldn't refuse, calling the outcome something both are excited about.
- Defense
- Eiglarsh says Brown is extremely grateful the case is behind him and that the attempted murder charge was removed.
- Prosecutors
- State attorneys say the victim did not want to cooperate and they couldn't prove the shooting was intentional, so they offered the deal.
- Victim
- The victim forgave Brown, wanted the case closed and said he hoped Brown gets the help he needs.
Still unverified
Brown has maintained he was defending himself from an attack as others were trying to steal jewelry from him; prosecutors alleged he fired two shots at a man, with one bullet grazing the victim's neck.