Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown has been out of professional football for almost three years, yet he remains a regular topic of discussion due to his provocative and often controversial social media activity.

Brown’s NFL career, once marked by its promise and standout performances, has been overshadowed by a series of off-field issues and legal troubles. These problems began to escalate towards the end of the 2018 NFL season, a time when Brown was widely considered a future Pro Football Hall of Famer. His remarkable skill set and accomplishments on the field were increasingly tainted by these personal and legal controversies.

Recently, Brown took to social media to make an unwarranted critique of Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and Wade’s daughter, Zaya. Wade, who was a commentator for Team USA’s Group C match against Serbia, praised former Miami Heat teammate LeBron James, noting that James’ pronouns are “he/him.” Wade later reiterated this information on Twitter, further fueling the discussion.

In response, Brown used his social media platform to target Wade and his daughter Zaya, who publicly came out as transgender four years ago. Wade, who has four children, revealed last year that he had moved his family out of Florida due to concerns about the state’s LGBTQ policies, which he felt would not provide a comfortable environment for his family. Brown’s comments were seen as an unnecessary and inflammatory attack on both Wade and his daughter.

Brown’s behavior on social media has been a consistent pattern since he last played in the NFL. He frequently garners attention by taking aim at prominent figures in sports, including his former teammate Tom Brady, who had supported the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in giving Brown another opportunity. Additionally, Brown has targeted WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Brittney Griner, further demonstrating his penchant for stirring controversy.

Antonio Brown’s final appearance in an NFL game was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Week 17 of the 2021 season against the New York Jets. His career effectively ended when he abruptly left the field after head coach Bruce Arians decided to bench him due to an injury. This dramatic exit marked the conclusion of a once illustrious career, as Brown’s on-field achievements were overshadowed by his tumultuous off-field behavior.