Former NFL star Antonio Brown is due to appear in a Miami court on Wednesday to enter a plea deal that would reduce an attempted murder charge to aggravated assault and keep him out of prison.
Brown’s lawyer, Mark Eiglarsh, said his client is expected to plead no contest in the Miami-Dade County case. The agreement would reportedly bring three years of probation, with the possibility of early termination after half the term has been completed.
Adjudication would be withheld, meaning Brown would not be classed as a convicted felon if he complies with the terms of the deal. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office has not confirmed the agreement, saying the details would be clarified at the hearing.
Antonio Brown plea deal in Miami shooting case
Brown had faced a second-degree attempted murder charge carrying a potential sentence of up to 30 years, including a mandatory minimum of 20 years, if convicted.
Eiglarsh said Brown continued to maintain that he acted lawfully and believed he could successfully rely on Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, which permits the use of deadly force in certain circumstances where a person believes they face death or serious injury.
“This was not an easy decision,” Eiglarsh said in a statement. He added that the proposed agreement would turn a potential decades-long prison term into a reduced charge and probation.
Under the reported terms, Brown would not be required to carry out community service, attend anger-management classes or undergo psychological or drug-treatment assessments. The principal condition would be that he stays away from the alleged victim, according to his lawyer.
The case relates to a shooting on May 16, 2025, after a celebrity boxing event in Miami. An arrest warrant alleges that Brown took a handgun from a security worker and fired twice at Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, with whom he had earlier been involved in a fistfight.
Nantambu told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck. His lawyer, Richard Cooper, has described the proposed deal as fair and said Nantambu has forgiven Brown and does not wish to participate in the prosecution.
Brown has said on social media that he was defending himself during an attack and that people were attempting to steal jewellery from him. An arrest warrant was issued in June 2025, and he was extradited from Dubai in November after being detained by US authorities.
Brown, 38, spent 12 seasons in the NFL, largely with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was named an All-Pro wide receiver. He finished his career with 928 receptions, more than 12,000 receiving yards and 88 total touchdowns.
He last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, winning the Super Bowl alongside quarterback Tom Brady. His career ended during a game against the New York Jets when he removed his jersey, shoulder pads and gloves before leaving the field.
