Antonio Brown has accused former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison of giving him CTE. Reflecting on his health during a recent Instagram Live video, Brown claimed that Harrison used an illegal helmet throughout his career.
"I wanted to tell you guys that I think James Harrison gave me CTE," Brown said. "James Harrison had an illegal helmet for over 20 years in the NFL, and he hit me one time. And, ever since he hit me, I’ve been super aggressive. So blame James Harrison for my CTE."
Harrison later responded to the accusation on his Twitter page with a video of Idris Elba choking on Hot Ones. "Me realizing why I had 150 text messages this morning," Harrison wrote. He has yet to respond any further.
It's unclear when exactly the alleged hit would've taken place. It could have been during practice while both Brown and Harrison were on the Steelers. It also could have gone down when Harrison left for the Bengals in 2013. Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict also famously collided with Brown helmet-to-helmet in 2016, resulting in one of the more brutal hits in recent memory.
Brown's behavior has become quite erratic in recent years. In 2022, he faced allegations of "domestic violence and battery" stemming from an incident at his home in Florida. He also allegedly assaulted a moving truck driver in 2020. In January 2022, Brown stormed off the field during a Buccaneers game, never to return to the team. He had become visibly upset on the sidelines beforehand.
Since the incident, Brown had yet to join another NFL team. On the other hand, Harrison retired after the 2017 season. He is widely considered one of the best linebackers of his era. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. Additionally, he helped lead the Steelers to Super Bowl victories in the 2005 and 2008 seasons. Check out Antonio Brown and James Harrison's social media posts below.
[Via]