Stefon Diggs walked out of a Massachusetts courthouse on Tuesday with a legal victory behind him and his NFL future once again in view.

The former New England Patriots wide receiver was acquitted of two criminal charges after prosecutors accused him of assaulting his personal chef during a dispute last December. A jury in Dedham found Diggs not guilty of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery after deliberating for about 90 minutes.

No assault ever occurred,” Schuster told reporters, arguing that the allegations had been used in “an attempt to extract money.” He also said false claims harm “real victims of domestic violence.”

The case stemmed from a December 2025 report made by the woman who had been working as Diggs’ personal chef. Prosecutors said the alleged incident followed a dispute over money she believed she was owed. During the trial, the defense argued that she was upset after losing her job and not being included on a trip to Miami. They also pointed to what they described as attempts to reach a financial settlement before trial.

The chef testified over two days, but her testimony was repeatedly interrupted by objections. Judge Jeanmarie Carroll warned her more than once to answer only the questions asked and, at one point, said her testimony could be stricken.

Assistant Norfolk District Attorney Drew Virtue acknowledged in closing arguments that the woman was not a “perfect witness,” calling her “argumentative” and “difficult” on the stand. Still, he urged jurors to focus on the substance of her account.

The defense called seven witnesses, including people who worked for Diggs. Several testified that they saw no signs of injury on the woman in the days after the alleged incident and said she did not report an assault to them.

Diggs was released by the Patriots in a cost-saving move, leaving him a free agent as teams begin offseason workouts. When asked what comes next, Schuster kept it simple: “OTAs.”

The legal case may be over, but Diggs’ football future is not fully settled yet. ESPN reported that the NFL has continued to monitor the matter under its personal conduct policy, meaning the league could still review the situation even after the acquittal.