Antonio Brown Files for Bankruptcy: Former NFL Star’s Financial Struggles.
Antonio Brown, the former All-Pro receiver who earned nearly $81 million during his 12-year NFL career, has confirmed reports that he has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This type of bankruptcy, often referred to as “reorganization” bankruptcy, allows the debtor to propose a plan to pay creditors over time while maintaining their business operations.
Despite not being broke, Brown candidly discussed his financial difficulties. “I mean, I’m f—-d up, you know what I’m saying?” he stated on The Pivot Podcast. “I just can’t comply with debt. You know, it’s all about protecting yourself. But yeah, you know … I’m not broke, but I’m fractured. … I’m just reallocating the debt to take care of the debtors. That’s all I’m doing.”
Brown, who has not played in the NFL since the 2021 season, admitted that his financial situation had become overwhelming. “You know, anybody can sue you, take you for whatever you got,” he said. “At this point, I don’t work, I don’t make millions of dollars where it’s coming in where I could just (pay off) some of that money. So, you know, Chapter 11 is about restructuring the money you’re making so you can take care of the debt.”
Brown’s financial woes are partly due to various legal issues over the years, starting with allegations of sexual and personal misconduct in 2019, which led to his release from the Patriots after just one game and an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Six years ago, Brown was considered the NFL’s top receiver. Before his tumultuous 2019 offseason and career-ending incidents, he was on a path many believed would lead to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. From 2010-18, Brown was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, a four-time All-Pro, and he recorded the best six-year stretch for a receiver in NFL history (2013-18).
Brown spent the first nine years of his career with the Steelers and holds numerous single-season franchise records, including most receiving yards (1,834), most receptions (134), and most touchdown catches in a single season (15).