Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs has finally reached the Super Bowl, but the New England Patriots star could face a harsh punishment sometime afterward.
Diggs is facing criminal charges of felony strangulation or suffocation after a December incident where police say he assaulted a former personal chef in a payment dispute. Though Diggs was able to argue for a delay in the case until after the Super Bowl, he is expected to face some punishment from the NFL as a result of the charges.
Stefon Diggs Delayed Case Until Days After the Super Bowl
Diggs and his legal team asked a judge for his arraignment, originally scheduled for January, to be delayed until later. Boston 25 reported that a judge agreed to hold the arraignment on Feb. 13, five days after Super Bowl LX.
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported at the time, the delay in criminal proceedings likely won’t deter the NFL from handing down its own punishment for Diggs — though not before the Super Bowl.
“It was already unlikely that the NFL would place Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs on the Commissioner Exempt list (i.e., paid leave) before the Super Bowl. It’s now virtually certain it won’t happen,” Florio wrote.
The league has wide latitude to issue punishment for players who face criminal charges, even if they don’t result in a conviction. That was the case for former Bills edge rusher Von Miller, who was suspended four games after he faced domestic assault charges.
But the timeline for these punishments can often be delayed, with Miller learned. He faced the accusations in late 2023, but was not handed down punishment until midway through the 2024 season.
If Diggs faces similar punishment from the NFL, it likely won’t come until sometime during the 2026 season, when the Patriots could be defending a Super Bowl title.
Stefon Diggs Maintains Innocence
Diggs has denied the charges, saying through a lawyer that he did not assault the woman. Speaking at his arraignment later in the week, attorney Mitchell Schuster said the wide receiver plans to vigorously defend himself in court.
“I don’t think there will be a [plea] deal because I don’t think he is liable or guilty in any way, shape or form,” Schuster said, via ESPN.
The attorney added that, once all the facts come out in court, it will show a “completely different picture” than the original allegations against him and leave Diggs exonerated.
“He is completely innocent. … He will be completely exonerated,” Schuster said.
The Patriots also issued a statement at the time, saying they were aware of the charges and following the case.
“The New England Patriots are aware of the accusations that have been made regarding Stefon Diggs,” the team said, via The Athletic. “Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon. We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary. Out of respect for all parties involved, and given that this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Ex-Bills WR Stefon Diggs Facing NFL Punishment After Super Bowl Amid Criminal Charges