TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 13: Antonio Brown (81) of the Bucs runs with the ball after making a catch during the regular season game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 13, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)
Before seemingly losing his mind, Antonio Brown was essentially unstoppable with the Pittsburgh Steelers. About three seasons after departing from the Steel City, the four-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro quite literally went out on his own terms.
During an appearance on “Bussin’ With The Boys” earlier this week, now-former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David recalled Brown’s unceremonious NFL exit, when he yanked off his jersey and shoulder pads and jogged off the field at MetLife Stadium in 2022.
“I was on IR at that time,” David said. “That’s, like, the second game I missed. I didn’t travel. But, leading up to that, you saw it stirring up. You saw it brewing. Just because he came one day, we (were) in the locker room … and he came in there complaining about something. I think we played the Panthers prior, the week before. And he was complaining about how often he scored a touchdown.
“I’m like, ‘Bro, you had over 100 yards. What you talking about?’ And he’s just pissed off. And you can see, like, ‘Damn, he might snap. He might snap soon.’”
JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the first half of an NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 18, 2018, at TIAA Bank Field. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire)
David’s memory served him well, as Brown notched 10 grabs for 101 yards in a 32-6 Buccaneers win on the road at Carolina before calling it quits the next week.
David remembered another instance that happened after Brown returned from a three-game suspension for obtaining a fake COVID-19 vaccination card during the previous summer. David’s teammates urged him to calm Brown down.
“They (were) like, ‘Bro, AB was in practice going crazy — and it was a walkthrough practice. And he’s just sprinting, catching the ball, throwing it at people, cursing people out,’” David said. “I’m like, ‘Damn, what’s he snapping for?’ He’s going off on coaches like, ‘Give me the fucking ball!’
“So that game, it’s kinda like I wasn’t surprised in a sense, but the way he did it — during the game — I was like, ‘Damn, AB, why are you doing that, man?’ To be honest with you, man, AB kinda messed up our chances of going to a second Super Bowl. He was that dude, bro.”
Brown starred for the Steelers from 2010-18. He ranks second in franchise history to Hines Ward in receptions (837), receiving yards (11,207) and touchdown catches (74).
Mentioned In This Article: Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Tampa Bay Buccaneers