A Massachusetts jury has found NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs not guilty of assaulting his personal chef, stemming from a dispute last year over finances and their relationship.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday, after less than two hours of deliberation, clearing the 32-year-old of felony strangulation, and misdemeanor assault and battery charges.
The two-day trial centered around a December 2, 2025 incident at Diggs’s residence in Dedham, Massachusetts, where his former live-in chef, Jamila Adams, accused Diggs of slapping and choking her during an argument.
During his arraignment back in February, the former New England Patriots star, who is currently a free agent, pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his attorney challenging Adams’s credibility and asserting that a violent attack never happened.
“There was no assault, no strangulation, no incident at all on that day or any other day,” defense attorney Andrew Kettlewell told the court, adding there was not “a single shred of credible evidence” from the prosecution to prove Adams was assaulted.
The defense pointed to inconsistencies in Adams’s statements and emphasized the absence of any corroborating evidence, and suggested financial motives played a role in her accusations.
Witness testimony from employees, friends, and officers who took Adams’s initial report claim they did not notice any visible injuries in the days following the alleged incident, adding her demeanor appeared normal.
“She was walking around looking for a piece of paper and a pen to write a card—I guess, write a note to him [Diggs] for his birthday gift,” recalled Diggs’s chief of staff, Jeanelle Sales.
Adams and Diggs met in 2022, where they first developed a friendly relationship described as a “friends with benefits” situation, before he hired her to prepare all of his meals during the NFL season.
The defense claims Adams sought out significant compensation in connection with the dispute, including an initial demand of $19,000 that increased to $5.5 million. The defense added that the blurred lines of their relationship shaped how she reacted in the aftermath of the incident.
“He was an athlete, a celebrity, financially powerful, surrounded by people that were all on his payroll that liked him,” said Assistant District Attorney Drew Virtue. “When you put that all in consideration, her behavior does make sense.”
Jurors ultimately sided with the defense, concluding prosecutors had not met the burden of proof required for a conviction.
Despite a productive 2025 season, the Patriots released Diggs in March, after he had signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the team last year. A four-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro, Diggs appeared in 14 playoff games across multiple NFL teams including the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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