Antonio Brown ‘is set to join Albany Empire’s ownership group in the National Arena League’

Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown will join the Albany Empire’s ownership group in the National Arena League, according to the Albany Times Union.

Brown’s father Eddie, who once starred in the Albany Firebirds during the 1990s, will also reportedly be involved in the deal. His jersey was retired by the team in 2018.

The Empire is set to officially announce the deal at a press conference scheduled for Thursday morning at 10 am ET.

The NFL All-Pro wide receiver posted a video on his Twitter profile Wednesday night, prompting a “big announcement” hours later.

Albany, New York. I’m here,’ Antonio Brown, standing on a balcony, said in the video. It’s a big announcement in the morning. Stay tuned.’

Antonio Brown and his father Eddie will reportedly join the Albany Empire ownership group.

The Empire is currently in its fourth incarnation as an Albany Arena Soccer League team.

Brown, 34, will not play for the Empire and last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before his career ended unceremoniously against the New York Jets.

He ran off the field waving to the crowd after removing his jersey and shoulder pads at the end of the game.

Aside from this, he’s dealt with a laundry list of controversies off the field as he transitions into the post-NFL portion of his life.

He faced domestic violence charges in December, which were later dropped, and was sued in 2018 for throwing furniture off a balcony at his Florida apartment complex when a 22-month-old boy was nearly struck by some of the debris. He eventually settled that lawsuit.

Additionally, he settled a sexual assault lawsuit with a former personal trainer in 2021, and in 2020, a moving company was awarded $1.2 million in damages after he accused Brown of attacking him during a disagreement.

Throughout his career, he caught 928 passes for 12,291 yards and 83 touchdowns over the course of his 12-year career.

He also won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2020.

Brown’s return to Albany is something of a homecoming after he attended second grade in the nearby Latham area at Blue Creek Elementary School while his father played for the Firebirds.

The soon-to-be part-owner of the Empire even referenced this on his Twitter when he said ‘Albany NY was always a special place for me and my FAMILY’ as the caption of him and two other kids posing with the Firebirds mascot.

Brown last appeared in the NFL while playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 2.