Former star NFL receiver Antonio Brown has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons in recent months. However, it appears that he is now ready to enter a new business venture.
Brown has not been in the NFL since walking out on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2021-22 season. He is now reportedly ready to put his football playing career behind him to instead become an owner of a football team.
According to TMZ, Brown is reportedly putting an end to his football career and will be buying an ownership stake in the Albany Empire of the National Arena League.
BREAKING: Antonio Brown is officially walking away from football, per @_MLFootball — but only as a player — because the newly retired #NFL superstar just became part owner of a National Arena League's Albany Empire.
Via @TMZ_Sports https://t.co/byU8mg4nAa
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 2, 2023
The deal was finalized on Thursday, and the Albany Empire’s social media team posted a video of Brown signing the papers to become a part-owner.
Business is Boomin… @AB84 @HCEBrown
🛡️🏆 pic.twitter.com/fEYKhc4Ll4
— Albany Empire (@thealbanyempir) March 2, 2023
The NFL world offered their opinion on both Brown reportedly ending his playing career and now become an owner of the Empire.
As a former Albany person…I have SO many questions. https://t.co/BfPo10gqTh
— Andrew Champagne (@AndrewChampagne) March 2, 2023
Brown’s dad Eddie Touchdown Brown returns to Albany as the VP of Football Operations. https://t.co/dL83KG6gWS
— Griffin Haas (@Griffin__Haas) March 2, 2023
Griffin Haas asking Antonio Brown a question at his Arena Football press conference in Albany NY is not something I have on my Thursday bingo board
— TJ Horgan (@TJHorganTV) March 2, 2023
What kind of grades will AB’s team get for nutrition, strength training etc? https://t.co/GvgR7PFuwV
— Alex Rollins (@AlexRollinsNFL) March 2, 2023
This decision is one that has some emotional ties for Brown and his family. His father Eddie Brown was a star for the Albany Empire in the 1990s, and Antonio spent time in the area as a child.
Brown discussed the significance of this move in his introductory press conference on Thursday.
“I grew up here watching my dad be successful and watching this building erupt. For me, to be in a family-oriented city like Albany, being here with my dad and my kids and just giving the community and players the opportunity to live out their dreams. So for me, it was easy. I’m just excited to be here.”
Albany Empire Press Conference – Live Stream https://t.co/d1gECm2El6
— Albany Empire (@thealbanyempir) March 2, 2023
If this truly is the end of Antonio Brown’s football playing career, his legacy will be one that had some extreme highs and some undeniably horrible lows.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.