Antonio Brown pleads guilty to avoid 20-year minimum sentence

Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown walked out of a Miami courtroom on Friday without a prison sentence. The 38-year-old admitted to aggravated assault with a firearm, a reduction from the attempted murder charge initially filed against him.

The plea agreement requires Brown to serve three years of probation. He must also complete a psychological evaluation and attend weekly counseling sessions if the court formally orders them.

Defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh described the deal as an offer his client could not refuse. Eiglarsh noted that a conviction on the original charges would have carried a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a potential maximum of 30 years in prison.

The legal dispute traces back to May 16, 2025, during a celebrity boxing match in Miami. Police report that Brown took a handgun from a security guard and fired it at Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu. Nantambu told police that a bullet grazed his neck during the incident.

Nantambu previously stated he did not want Brown prosecuted and preferred the case be closed. Brown offered a brief comment outside the courthouse on Thursday, thanking God for the outcome.

Brown’s final NFL appearance occurred on January 3, 2022, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Coach Bruce Arians called for Brown to enter the game, but the wide receiver refused. He removed his jersey, shoulder pads, undershirt, and gloves before leaving the field bare-chested.

The incident concluded a period of off-field controversies that followed Brown’s athletic career. He will now proceed under the conditions of his probation.