Pittsburgh Steelers alum Antonio Brown, accused of opening fire at a man in Miami, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge that keeps the former Super Bowl champion out of prison.
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Brown, 38, was sentenced to three years' probation after pleading guilty to an aggravated assault charge. During that time, he is required to attend weekly counseling sessions and cannot possess a gun.
The former NFL star is "extremely grateful that this is finally behind us" and that an attempted murder charge was removed, defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh told reporters.
The plea to the reduced charge allows Brown to not only avoid prison time but also a criminal conviction.
"My client was facing 30 years in prison with a 20-year minimum mandatory. He was given an offer he just couldn't refuse," Eiglarsh added. "Probation was too good to turn down, and we're both very excited about the outcome."
Antonio Brown Avoids 30-Year Jail Sentence After Miami Shooting
Brown was initially charged with attempted murder after police said he grabbed a gun from a security staffer at the event and fired two shots at a man he had been in a fistfight with. The incident occurred on May 16, 2025, following a celebrity boxing match in Miami.
Brown claimed he was defending himself from an attack in which others tried to steal his jewelry. Florida's Stand Your Ground law allows people who believe they face death or serious injury to use deadly force to defend themselves without a duty to retreat.
Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu told police that one of the rounds grazed his neck. The victim said he didn't want Brown prosecuted and wanted the case to be closed.
When asked about this outcome, Brown said outside court on Thursday: "I thank God."
Brown played 12 NFL seasons and is eligible for the 2027 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
The embattled receiver is one of 32 players in NFL history to amass over 12,000 receiving yards. The former Super Bowl champion also earned four All-Pro selections and made seven Pro Bowl appearances.
He last appeared in an NFL game in Week 17 of the 2021 season, in which he infamously undressed on the sidelines mid-game before waving goodbye to the crowd shirtless.
