Former NFL star Antonio Brown, 37, has been arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is in the process of being extradited to Miami, Florida, to face attempted murder charges. Police confirmed his arrest comes after a shooting that took place in Miami after a celebrity boxing event.
Extradition in Process
Miami police spokesman Mike Vega reported that the 37-year-old NFL star was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals in Dubai and was flown to Essex County, New Jersey. Brown was seen posting on social media in Dubai for months before the news reports came out. He is being held in Jersey pending extradition to Miami. “Brown is back at the Essex County Jail in Newark, where he is awaiting pickup by Florida authorities,” said Carmen Martin, the spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Officials did not make it clear why he was taken to Jersey first rather than Miami, or how long he had been in Dubai before being processed. Court documents also do not show whether he has retained an attorney or when he will be flown to Miami.
Antonio Brown’s Arrest
Brown’s arrest warrant detailed the shooting that occurred on May 16, 2025. Brown is accused of stealing a handgun from a security officer after the boxing match ended and firing off two shots at a man with whom he had been in a fistfight previously. The victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, says that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
“Cellphone video obtained from social media showed Mr. Brown with the firearm in his hand advancing toward Mr. Nantambu on the outside walk. The video captures two shots which occur as Mr. Brown is within several feet of Mr. Nantambu,” the arrest affidavit reads. “The video also captures Mr. Nantambu ducking after the first shot is heard.”
Brown was not arrested the same night of the alleged shooting because police did not correctly identify the victim initially. On May 21, Nantambu gave police a full statement and identified the shooter as Antonio Brown. Following the altercation,
Brown posted on social media claiming he was defending himself because he was “jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me.” Brown is facing a second-degree attempted murder charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years and up to a $10,000 fine if convicted.
NFL Career
Brown spent 12 years in the NFL as an All-Pro wide receiver, most of them with the Pittsburgh Steelers, before ending his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had 928 receptions for more than 12,000 yards and 83 touchdowns and was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He was one of the key components to the Buccaneers’ win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on February 21 when he caught one of the touchdown passes thrown by Tom Brady.
His career ended not because of his age or skill, but because of his actions and image, which reflected poorly on the team. In a 2021 Tampa Bay game against the New York Jets, Brown removed his jersey, shoulder pads, and gloves before running off the field. This incident led the Buccaneers to release him, ultimately ending his football career.
He may have been a star on the field, but he has dealt with multiple legal problems over the years, so the shooting is not his first offense. Before the shooting, previous legal trouble he faced included an alleged battery of a moving truck driver, several domestic violence incidents, a failure to pay child support charges, and several other violations. His current net worth is underwater as he is reported to have less than $50,000 in assets and owes around $2.93 million to eight creditors.
