Antonio Brown tweets that he wants to retire as a Steeler

Antonio Brown has burned bridges with several of his former NFL teams. He’d like to repair one with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Brown, who remains a free agent after walking out on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late last season, wrote on his verified Twitter account Monday that he wants to end his career with the team that drafted him in the sixth round in 2010.

“Just wanna Retire a Steeler,” Brown tweeted Monday afternoon.

About 15 minutes later, Brown clarified that he’s not looking to resume his NFL career with the team.

“Not Play Jus Retire so we Clear,” he wrote.

Just wanna Retire A Steeler

— AB (@AB84) May 16, 2022

Brown was suspended three games last season for misrepresenting his covid-19 vaccination status. In the second game following his return, Tampa Bay’s penultimate game of the season against the New York Jets, Brown removed his shoulder pads, jersey and shirt in the middle of the game, then ran off the field waving to the crowd. The Buccaneers removed Brown from the roster and granted his unconditional release.

Since the Steelers granted Brown’s wish for a trade after the 2018 season, he has had acrimonious splits with the then-Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and the Buccaneers.

Not Play Jus Retire so we Clear

— AB (@AB84) May 16, 2022

Brown will turn 34 in July and is coming off a season in which he totaled 42 receptions for 545 yards and four touchdowns in seven games for Tampa Bay.

Two years ago, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said the organization had no “business interest” in reuniting with Brown but that the franchise would offer assistance in his “growth and development as a man.”

Given Brown’s recent history of inappropriate behavior on and off the field, another one of Tomlin’s recent quotes comes to mind regarding a potential reunion. It’s the one Tomlin uttered last year when asked whether he’d be interested in a college coaching position.

“Never say never — but never.”