NFL concludes Stefon Diggs personal conduct review with insufficient evidence
The league’s determination removes a potential administrative barrier for the former New England Patriots player, who was released in March after being found not guilty of assaulting his private chef.
The National Football League has closed its personal conduct review of wide receiver Stefon Diggs, determining there was insufficient evidence to substantiate a violation of the league’s policy. The decision was confirmed by a league official to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday, marking the final administrative step in a matter that has spanned criminal court proceedings and internal league scrutiny.
The review was initiated following criminal charges laid against Diggs in February, to which he pleaded not guilty. The charges included felony strangulation and a misdemeanor count of assault and battery. These stemmed from an incident on 10 December at Diggs’ home in Dedham, Massachusetts, involving his private chef, Jamila Adams. Adams testified that Diggs slapped and choked her during an argument, while the defence argued the assault never occurred and questioned the credibility of the allegations, suggesting the dispute involved financial tensions or relationship issues.
Diggs was acquitted of all criminal charges in May. The NFL’s conclusion that there is insufficient evidence for a policy violation follows this legal outcome. The league’s ruling distinguishes its administrative standards from the criminal justice system, focusing on whether the available evidence met the threshold for a personal conduct infraction rather than re-litigating the criminal case.
Diggs was released by the New England Patriots in March, prior to the conclusion of the criminal trial. He had signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Patriots the previous year and served as a key target for quarterback Drake Maye during the team’s AFC East title run. His release left him as a free agent, and the NFL’s decision to close the review removes a significant hurdle to his potential recruitment by another franchise.
Prior to his tenure in New England, Diggs was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 and spent several seasons with the Buffalo Bills before a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2024. His 1,000-yard season with the Patriots marked the seventh of his career, representing a successful revival after a season-ending knee injury curtailed his time with the Texans. At the time of the verdict, his legal team stated that the evidence showed he was wrongly accused and faced opportunistic targeting.
