Former NFL star receiver Antonio Brown has confirmed he filed for bankruptcy, highlighting a difficult financial situation despite earning nearly $81 million over his 12-year career. Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, the 35-year-old detailed his decision to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a form of reorganization that allows debtors to propose a plan to pay creditors over time.
While asserting he is not entirely broke, Brown was candid about his financial woes. “I mean, I’m f—-d up, you know what I’m saying?” Brown shared. “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.”
Having not played in the NFL since the end of the 2021 season, Brown acknowledged that financial mismanagement had caught up with him. “You know, anybody can sue you, take you for whatever you got,” he explained. “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 referred to the legal issues that have plagued him over the past several years, beginning with the 2019 allegations of sexual and personal misconduct. These allegations led to his release from the Patriots after just one game and resulted in an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
The financial struggles mark a stark contrast from Brown’s earlier career, which saw him emerge as one of the NFL’s premier receivers. From 2010-18, he earned seven Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors, amassing what many considered a Hall of Fame-worthy resume. During this period, he set numerous records with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including most receiving yards (1,834), most receptions (134), and most touchdown catches (15) in a single season.
Despite his off-field challenges, Brown’s legacy on the field remains significant, with his achievements during the 2013-18 stretch being celebrated as one of the greatest in league history.