The Pittsburgh Steelers recently traded away George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, which has sparked debate about how the organization has dealt with problematic wide receivers in the past. The former second-round selection was apparently not worth the headache anymore, and General Manager Omar Khan agreed with Jerry Jones on a deal. Another former wideout who played in the Steel City, and was dealt despite having undeniable talent, was Antonio Brown. The team moved on from him during the 2019 offseason after a tumultuous 2018 campaign.

Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin talks with former wide receiver Antonio Brown as the team warms up prior to a home game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
Since Brown was traded, he has made headlines for all of the wrong reasons. That trend continued on Friday evening when Brown was attending a boxing event hosted by popular streamer Adin Ross. In videos circulating across the social media landscape, Brown can be seen running after individuals that allegedly attempted to jump him. After he disappears from the camera view, gun shuts can be heard.
Antonio Brown was just arrested at Adin Rossβs boxing event after allegedly pulling out a f*rearm and firing shots while trying to fight off people who were trying to steal his chain π pic.twitter.com/8NAANsxyYi
β FearBuck (@FearedBuck) May 17, 2025
There are not too many certified reports out there about the incident, but anytime a gun is involved, it's a little unsettling to say the least. Brown was detained by police, but according to him, it was only for a short time and he was let go after officers heard his side of the story.
"Regarding the boxing event that happened last night," Brown wrote on X. "I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me. Contrary to some video circulating, Police temporarily detained me until they received my side of the story and then released me. I WENT HOME THAT NIGHT AND WAS NOT ARRESTED."
This is still a story that is developing, but some are noticing that Brown was actually running after an individual before the gun shots can be heard. More details will come out, but that doesn't seem to be a good thing for the former NFL player.
Antonio Brown might be cooked. If you're using a firearm in self-defense, you can't walk down your attacker, especially not after the brawl was diffused. π€¦πΎββοΈ https://t.co/YqocNOe8fU
β GOWIE (@DaKidGowie) May 17, 2025
Brown's statement seems to be very clear that he is not facing any legal ramifications for what happened. Regardless, it is sad to see that the former Steelers superstar is constantly in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Keith Srakocic / AP
Former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown celebrates and points to the crowd after scoring a touchdown during a professional football game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
Sadly, this isn't the first time a former wide receiver for the Steelers was involved in a public gunfire incident. A few years after leaving the team to play for the New York Giants, Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in at a Manhattan nightclub. He ended up receiving a two-year prison sentence after the 2008 event. Fortunately, it does not appear that anyone was hurt during Brown's incident on Friday.
Steelers Made The Right Decision By Trading Brown In 2019 Offseason
It was clear roughly six years ago that it was time for Pittsburgh to move on from Brown. He was causing headaches in the locker room and simply wasn't a team player overall. It will be interested to see if fans of the organization look back at the recent Pickens deal the same way. The two aren't the only disgruntled receivers to be dealt by the franchise, and it appears as if they won't be the last if problems persist in the locker room in the future.
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Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Former Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (#14) catches a pass and gets ready to run up the field during a 2023 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Are you surprised to hear that the former Steelers wide receiver in Brown was involved in a gunfire incident? Let us know in the comments below!
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