Following his expulsion from the National Arena League, free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown asserts a new professional venture – a partnership with ESPN. This announcement comes hot on the heels of substantial layoffs at the sports media giant.

Brown shared the news via Twitter on Saturday, stating his "excitement" about the collaboration. He restricted replies to only those he follows on the platform. This isn't the first time Brown has made unconventional announcements; he previously falsely claimed to have signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

The timing of Brown’s announcement coincides with ESPN’s recent dismissal of around 20 high-profile employees. According to an inside source at ESPN, these cuts, which included prominent analysts and commentators like Todd McShay, Suzy Kolber, Steve Young, Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, Keyshawn Johnson, Max Kellerman, and Joon Lee, aimed to preserve positions for other staff members. This cost-cutting strategy appears to contrast with ESPN's recent signing of Pat McAfee to a lucrative five-year, $85 million deal.

Brown, majority owner of the recently ousted Albany Empire of the National Arena League, has been out of the NFL since his dramatic exit from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. He infamously removed his jersey and left the field mid-game at MetLife Stadium. As of the time of this report, ESPN has not confirmed nor denied Brown's claim of a partnership.