After an altercation between Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ wide receiver Antonio Brown and Head Coach Bruce Arians in Week 17 against the New York Jets, Brown stripped off his gear, threw his shirt and gloves into the crowd, and ran shirtless off the field and into the locker room. Immediately after the game, Arians announced that Brown was off the team, marking the end of his run with the Buccaneers. 

Throughout his career, Brown has had his fair share of off-the-field issues causing him to go through four teams in around three years, finally landing with the Buccaneers where it seemed as if he had finally found his team. Brown had a great 2020 regular season and playoffs, being a vital part of the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl Championship run. Brown started the 2021 season on the same hot streak with six strong games as one of Tom Brady’s favorite targets. After a Week 6 ankle injury that sidelined him for five weeks, he was finally set to come back when he was suspended again for lying about his vaccination status. 

When he finally was set to come back, Arians mentioned how Brown only had one more chance to mess up before he was done and off the team. Brown also promised that he would be committed to football and be done with all the off-the-field issues. Brown’s first game back he shined with 10 receptions and over 100 yards, making it seem like he was back for real. After an injury to fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin, Brown’s role in the Buccaneers’ playoff push was only increasing. It finally seemed as if Brown had taken his role and was committed to football

Throughout Week 17, Brown was questionable with an ankle injury, which he overcame to play against the Jets. The Buccaneers were a heavy favorite and the game was supposed to be a blowout, but for most of the game, the Jets were winning. Early in the third quarter, an altercation was seen between Brown and Arians which led to Brown stripping off his pads, throwing his shirt and gloves into the crowd, and running off the field shirtless. 

Even without Brown, the Buccaneers came back to win the game, and Arians quickly announced Brown was no longer a part of the team. Days later, Brown released his side of what happened to say that MRI’s came back showing extensive damage to his ankle which the Buccaneers and Arians forced him to play through. Arians said that Brown refused to play because he was not getting the ball and the Buccaneers were losing. 

While we do not know which side of the story is true, Antonio Brown had one of the weirdest moments and seasons in NFL history.