Antonio Brown

Early life

Brown is the son of "Touchdown" Eddie Brown and Adrianne Moss. Brown's father played as a wide receiver for the Albany Firebirds in the Arena Football League, and was named the best player in the league's history in 2006.

Brown attended Miami Norland High School in Miami, Florida, where he played football. In football, Brown played running back, quarterback, wide receiver, and punt returner for the Vikings. He was a two-time Class 6A all-state selection and was also named North Athlete of the Year at 2005 Miami-Dade Gridiron Classic. Coming out of high school, Brown applied to Florida State University. His admission was denied over academic concerns.

After attempting to attend Alcorn State University, he decided to enroll at North Carolina Tech Prep. Playing in just five games at quarterback, Brown passed for 1,247 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for 451 yards and 13 touchdowns. Once he finished his lone season at North Carolina Tech Prep, he received a scholarship to play at Florida International University, but he was expelled before the season for an altercation with security. Brown then began reaching out to wide receivers coach Butch Jones at West Virginia University, since he had been highly recruited by him. After learning that Jones had left West Virginia to become the head coach at Central Michigan University, Brown enrolled at the school and started his college football career as a walk-on freshman.

College career

Brown attended and played college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas from 2007 to 2009.

Freshman season

Brown began attending Central Michigan University in 2007 after wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni told him he could fly to Michigan and try out for the team as a walk-on wide receiver. Transitioning from the quarterback position in high school to wide receiver in college was not that difficult for him, and after a few weeks, Central Michigan coaches offered him a scholarship. Brown had difficulty adjusting to the college lifestyle, and being on time for meetings and practice. Azzanni and his wife helped him get situated and into an established routine, and he soon became like a part of their family. He made his collegiate debut against the Kansas Jayhawks on September 1. He had four receptions for 23 receiving yards in the 52–7 loss. In the next week's game against the Toledo Rockets, he had nine receptions for 105 receiving yards and his first collegiate touchdown, a six-yard pass from Dan LeFevour, in the 52–31 victory. On October 6, against the Ball State Cardinals, he had six receptions for 43 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown to go along with a nine-yard rushing touchdown in the 58–38 victory. On November 23, against the Akron Zips, he had 15 receptions for 174 yards in the 35–32 victory. The Chippewas finished with an 8–5 record, won the MAC, and qualified for a bowl game. In the 2007 Motor City Bowl against the Purdue Boilermakers, he had four receptions for 94 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in the 51–48 loss. During his first season at Central Michigan, Brown played in 14 games. He played well enough to win the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and was All-Conference as a returner. For his freshman season, he had 102 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns. His 102 receptions led the Mid-American Conference in 2007.

Sophomore season

Brown started every game during his sophomore season in 2008. In the third game of the season, against the Ohio Bobcats, he had 10 receptions for 78 receiving yards to go along with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown in the 31–28 victory. On October 11, against the Temple Owls, he had three receptions for 33 yards and a season-high two touchdown receptions. The next week, against the Western Michigan Broncos, he had 10 receptions for 113 yards and threw a two-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter of the 38–28 victory. On November 1, against the Indiana Hoosiers, he had seven receptions for 138 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 37–34 victory. On November 28, while playing at the Eastern Michigan Eagles, he had seven receptions for a season-high 172 yards and a touchdown. The Chippewas finished with an 8–4 record and qualified for the 2008 Motor City Bowl. In the bowl game against the FAU Owls, he had 11 receptions for 92 receiving yards in the 24–21 loss. For the season, Brown hauled in 93 receptions for 998 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the conference with 410 punt return yards and 791 kick return yards, and he also led the nation with an average of 20.5 yards per punt return.

Junior season

After a slow start to the season in a 19–6 loss against the Arizona Wildcats, Brown had ten receptions for 71 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans. In addition, he completed a 24-yard pass and recorded 150 net kickoff return yards in the 29–27 victory for the Chippewas first triumph over the Spartans since 1992. In the season's third game against the Alcorn State Braves, he had a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter of the 48–0 victory. Against the Akron Zips on September 26, 2009, Brown had nine receptions for 89 receiving yards and a season-high two receiving touchdowns in the 48–21 victory. On October 3, against the Buffalo Bulls, he had six receptions for 112 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in the 20–13 victory. In the next game, against the Eastern Michigan Eagles, he had four receptions for 110 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 56–8 victory. Over the next two games, both victories over the Western Michigan Broncos and the Bowling Green Falcons, he recorded his fourth and fifth consecutive game with a receiving touchdown. On November 11, he had 13 receptions for 129 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 56–28 victory over the Toledo Rockets. In the following game against the Ball State Cardinals, he had 11 receptions for 170 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in the 35–3 victory. In the MAC Championship against the Ohio Bobcats, he had eight receptions for 66 receiving yards in the 20–10 victory.

In his last collegiate game on January 6, 2010, against the Troy Trojans in the GMAC Bowl, Brown had a season-high 13 receptions for 178 yards in the 44–41 victory. He finished 2009 with single-season bests of 110 receptions (also a school record), 1,198 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. Brown contributed to a historic season for Central Michigan. The team set a school record for wins with 12. For his career at Central Michigan, he had a school-record 305 receptions, (including the top three seasons with the most receptions in school history), 3,199 receiving yards (fourth all-time), and 22 touchdowns (third all-time). On January 7, he announced he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2010 NFL draft.

Professional career

Pre-draft

After Brown entered the 2010 NFL draft, the majority of analysts and scouts projected him to be a fifth or sixth round draft selection. He was ranked as the 37th best wide receiver by NFLDraftScout.com and was invited to the NFL Combine, where he completed the entire workout and all the positional drills. Brown participated at Central Michigan's Pro Day and decided to try to improve on his 10, 20, and 40-yard dash times after being unsatisfied with the numbers he clocked at the combine. He was able to improve his time in all three categories.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Using a pick received in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the sixth round with the 195th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. He was the 22nd of 27 wide receivers selected in the draft, and the second by the Pittsburgh Steelers behind Emmanuel Sanders. He picked the jersey number 84, which he explained: "Eight times four is 32. Thirty-two teams looked past me, even the Steelers. So every time I go out there it's a little added motivation."

On June 15, 2010, the Steelers signed Brown to a three-year, $1.28 million contract with a signing bonus of $73,075.

Brown entered training camp competing with Sanders, Tyler Grisham, Stefan Logan, Isaiah Williams, and Brandon Logan to be the Steelers' backup wide receivers. Brown was named the Steelers' fifth wide receiver on their depth chart, behind veterans Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Antwaan Randle El, and Arnaz Battle.

On September 19, Brown made his NFL debut against the Tennessee Titans and returned two kickoffs and a punt for 128 yards, including an 89-yard touchdown from a reverse on the first play of the game, in the 19–11 victory. He became the first player since Steve Smith for the Carolina Panthers in 2001 to record a kickoff return touchdown in his first career game. On October 3, Brown made his first NFL catch for a six-yard gain during a 17–14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. During the regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns, Brown made a season-high four catches for 52 yards in a 41–9 victory. He finished his rookie season with 16 receptions for 167 yards in ten games.

The Steelers finished the 2010 season atop the AFC North and earned the #2-seed with a 12–4 record. On January 15, 2011, Brown appeared in his first postseason game and caught a 58-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger to set up the game-winning touchdown. He finished his first playoff game with a season-high 75 yards on three receptions as the Steelers defeated the Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round by a score of 31–24. The following week in the AFC Championship against the New York Jets, at the two-minute warning, Brown caught a 14-yard pass on 3rd & 6, sealing the 24–19 victory for the Steelers and advancing them to Super Bowl XLV. In his first Super Bowl, Brown handled four kickoff returns, four punt returns, and finished with one catch for one yard in the 31–25 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Oakland Raiders

On March 9, 2019, the Steelers agreed to trade Brown to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a third and a fifth round selections in the 2019 NFL draft. The deal became official on March 13. Prior to the trade to Oakland, reports surfaced that the Steelers were "close to a deal" with the Buffalo Bills, but that the deal was canceled after Brown protested on social media.

In Brown's introductory press conference with the Raiders, he said "I'm here to elevate everything around me. I'm here to just be a surge of energy, of positivity, and good force. A great teammate and to bring out the best of everyone around me cause we all know it's not just about me." On August 3, Brown posted a picture of his heavily blistered feet on Instagram, which was later revealed to be frostbite to his feet due to not wearing proper footwear during a cryotherapy session. Brown's injury forced him to miss 10 out of 11 training camp practices with the Raiders.

On August 9, Brown filed a grievance to continue wearing his old helmet, even though it was discontinued and no longer approved by the NFL. He intended to retire from football if he had to wear a new helmet. Despite Brown's pleas to continue wearing his old helmet, an arbitrator denied his request. Brown eventually found a replacement for his old helmet, but it also did not meet the NFL's standards. Afterwards, he continued to not practice with the Raiders. Brown filed a second grievance regarding his helmet on August 19, which was also rejected. On September 4, Brown announced that he was using the Xenith Shadow helmet, which met the league's standards.

The same day Brown announced his helmet change, he was fined $54,000 by the Raiders organization for violating team rules, mainly due to unexcused absences and missing team practice sessions. Brown posted the letter informing him about his fine on Instagram, a move that was scrutinized around the league. The following day, Brown confronted Raiders general manager Mike Mayock and had a verbal altercation; Brown reportedly called Mayock a "cracker", which Brown later denied. It was also reported that Brown threatened to hit Mayock, and had to be held back by several teammates, including linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Afterwards, he punted a football and said to Mayock, "Fine me for that".

On September 6, Brown showed up at a Raiders team meeting and made an emotional apology for his actions. When head coach Jon Gruden was asked if Brown would play in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos, he replied, "That's the plan. Yes." Later that day, Brown read a 20-second statement that read, "I'm excited to be out here today. I apologized to my teammates and the organization. Enough talk, man. I'm excited to be out here with my teammates. I'm grateful for all the fans. I'm excited to be a part of the Raiders and see you guys soon." Less than a day later, Brown demanded his release from the Raiders after they voided the guaranteed money in his contract. Brown was released by the Raiders on September 7, just hours before his 2019 salary would have become guaranteed. Prior to his release, the Raiders fined Brown $215,000, for his altercation with Mayock.

New England Patriots

On September 7, 2019, the same day he was released by the Raiders, Brown agreed to a one-year contract with the New England Patriots worth up to $15 million, with a $9 million signing bonus. Additionally, on September 9, the Patriots added a second-year option in Brown's contract in which he would receive $20 million if picked up.

Despite allegations of sexual and personal misconduct levied against him, Brown practiced with the Patriots in preparation for his season debut in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins. He officially made his Patriots debut in Week 2, catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown along with a 5-yard rush in a 43–0 road victory. On September 20, following further allegations, in addition to allegedly intimidating text messages sent to one of his accusers after going to New England, Brown was cut by the Patriots.

2020 offseason

Brown posted on Twitter that he was retiring from the NFL on September 22, 2019, but changed his mind four days later. On July 20, 2020, he implied he was retiring again, but again expressed interest in playing a few days later. On July 31, Brown was suspended for the first eight weeks of the 2020 NFL season for multiple violations of the league's personal-conduct policy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brown visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 24, 2020. He signed a one-year contract with the team on October 27, which reportedly included $1 million in base salary and active game bonuses, and $1.5 million in performance incentives. Brown was reunited with Buccaneers' head coach Bruce Arians, who had been his offensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011.

Brown was reinstated from suspension and the team activated him on November 3. In his first game back on Sunday Night Football in Week 9, he was targeted five times, catching three passes for 31 yards. However, the Buccaneers were routed by the New Orleans Saints 3–38. In Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers, Brown caught seven passes for 69 yards in a 46–23 victory. The next day on November 16, it was reported that Brown had destroyed a security camera and thrown a bicycle at a security guard at his home on October 15.

In Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, Brown recorded five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown during the 31–27 comeback victory. This was Brown's first touchdown of the season and as a Buccaneer. In Week 17, against the Falcons, he had 11 receptions for 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 44–27 victory. Overall, he finished the 2020 season with 45 receptions for 483 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

In the Wild Card Round against the Washington Football Team, Brown rushed once for a 22-yard gain and caught two passes for 49 yards and a touchdown in the 31–23 win. Brown sustained a knee injury during the team's Divisional Round win at the Saints, and did not play in the team's NFC Championship win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. In Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs, Brown recorded five receptions for 22 yards, including scoring the third touchdown of the game, a one-yard reception from Tom Brady, with six seconds left in the first half. The Buccaneers won 31–9, securing Brown his first Super Bowl championship.

On April 28, 2021, Brown agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Buccaneers. Despite off-season knee surgery, Brown passed the physical, and the deal became official on May 25, 2021. The deal was worth $6.25 million, a $2 million signing bonus, and $3.1 million guaranteed. On September 22, the Buccaneers placed Brown on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He missed the Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Rams because he was still on the list. On December 2, Brown was suspended for three games by the NFL for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols by misrepresenting his vaccination status.

Retirement and potential comebacks

On March 2, 2023, Brown announced his retirement from professional football. He unretired from professional football on April 28, 2023, with the intention of playing for the Albany Empire in the following month, but this did not happen. He announced his second retirement via the CTESPN Network, a social media page he created days prior, on April 24, 2024, retiring as a Las Vegas Raider.

On November 21, 2024, Brown released a statement coming out of retirement once again, expressing a willingness to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers for free for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Career statistics

Albany Empire

On March 2, 2023, Brown joined the ownership group for the Albany Empire.

On April 15, Brown told reporters that "I'm the owner, 100 percent owner" of the Empire, a statement denied by Mike Kwarta, who said that Brown and Kwarta each owned 47.5 percent of the team. Four days later, Brown bought Kwarta's ownership stake for $1, growing his position to 95% of the team, and the Empire announced that Kwarta and two other executives were no longer affiliated with the team. On May 3, Brown's representatives told the Times Union, a newspaper in Albany, that Brown has no personal ownership or control over the Empire, and that the team is actually owned by Antonio El-Allah Express Trust Enterprise, which is owned by a foreign citizen named Antonio El-Allah. A letter addressed to a Times Union reporter began:

I Brown, Antonio Tavaris [sic] a foreign national but not a citizen of the United States at birth [sic], am writing to you regarding recent reports that have been circulating in the media regarding my supposed ownership of the Albany Empire team. I want to make it very clear that I am not the owner of this team, and any claims to the contrary are completely false.

Media outlets disputed Brown's self-reference as a "foreign national", since both of his parents are US citizens, and he was born and raised in Miami. The letter cited 8 U.S.C. § 1408 to back up Brown's claim that he is a United States national but not a citizen; this section of the United States Code applies only to people who were born in American Samoa or Swains Island, or to people in a few other circumstances not applicable to Brown. Some of the language in the letter may suggest an attempt by Brown to portray himself as a sovereign citizen. Mike Florio wrote that the letter "feels like a clumsy effort to create a shell entity that owns the team."

On May 25, Brown told WTEN that he intended to play for the Empire in their game against the Fayetteville Mustangs on May 27, which would have made him the first player–owner in professional football since George Halas. Because paperwork for his physical examination did not come through on time, Brown did not play in this game. As owner of the team, Brown had the option to override the physical exam requirement, but he did not exercise this option. On June 1, he told WNYT that he would make his playing debut for the Empire in their June 17 game against the Jacksonville Sharks.

Other ventures

Television appearances

On March 8, 2016, Brown was announced as one of the celebrities who competed on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer Sharna Burgess. Brown and Burgess were eliminated during the semifinals of the show and finished the competition in fourth place overall.

Brown was featured as the client in an episode of Treehouse Masters which aired September 7, 2018, where a "luxury skybox" treehouse, football field, and basketball court were built in his Pittsburgh back yard.

On January 2, 2019, Brown took part on the first season of The Masked Singer as "Hippo" where he sang "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown. He was eliminated in the first episode.

Music

In 2018, Brown appeared in recording artist Drake's music video for "God's Plan".

In January 2020, Brown began releasing music under his initials AB; his debut single was "Whole Lotta Money". Later, in January 2022, Brown released "Pit Not The Palace", hours after he ran off the field during a Buccaneers–Jets game.

Business

Since February 2022, Brown has been the president of Kanye West's sports fashion line which is part of West's creative content company Donda Sports.

Personal life

Brown is the father of five sons and two daughters. He has three sons and a daughter with Chelsie Kyriss and three other children by three other women.

In September 2019, Brown re-enrolled for online classes at his alma mater, Central Michigan University. During his first month of class, Brown was the target of ridicule after he asked his 6.2 million Twitter followers for help proofreading an English paper, which was due that evening, in a tweet with several spelling and grammar errors. In December 2023, Brown announced on his X account that he had graduated from Central Michigan.

Brown is the cousin of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Marquise Brown, who was drafted in 2019, as well as former wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins.

Brown endorsed the Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign on October 20, 2024.

Legal issues

During and prior to the 2018 season, Brown was embroiled in numerous incidents in addition to causing tension within the Steelers organization. This included tossing furniture out of his 14th-floor apartment window in April, nearly hitting a 22-month-old toddler on the patio below, and being cited for speeding, driving in excess of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) along a suburban Pittsburgh road. Brown was later sued for the April incident, and reached a settlement with the family of the child in April 2019. In February 2019, a judge ruled him guilty of reckless driving in the speeding incident, and Brown received a fine.

On September 10, 2019, Brown's former trainer, Britney Taylor, filed a lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted her on three occasions. She claimed that he exposed himself to her and raped her. Brown and his legal team denied the allegations. On September 18, the Allegheny County district attorney's office announced Brown would not be prosecuted because Taylor's accusations were outside of the statute of limitations. The civil suit continued. On September 16, a second woman accused him of sexual misconduct. Separately, Victor Prisk, a Pittsburgh-based doctor who was treating Brown while with the Steelers, also sued Brown for "farting in his face" and $11,500 in unpaid fees in 2018. A settlement between Brown and Taylor was agreed upon in April 2021.

On January 13, 2020, following several domestic incidents in which police were called to Brown's home in Hollywood, Florida, the Hollywood Police Department stated they no longer want Brown to be associated with their youth league (PAL). The Hollywood police department returned a check from Brown and issued a trespass order preventing him from being involved with their youth league while saying in a statement, "We do not want him to continue to affect our youth, or influence them in a negative way." Days later on January 21, it was reported that Brown and an accomplice had attacked a moving truck driver at the home. Glenn Holt, working as Brown's trainer was arrested, while a warrant for Brown's arrest was issued a day later with a felony charge of battery and burglary. He turned himself in a night later on January 23. Brown was officially charged with felony burglary of a vehicle, misdemeanor battery, and misdemeanor criminal mischief on March 20. On June 12, Brown pleaded no contest to the felony battery and burglary charges and received two years of probation. He was also ordered to undergo 100 hours of community service, a 13-week anger management counseling program, and a psychological evaluation.