It Took a Jury 90 Minutes to Acquit Stefon Diggs. It May Take Years to Undo What the Accusation Did

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The jury needed an hour and a half.

That was enough time to hear the judge's instructions, walk into the deliberation room, review a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault charge, and decide that none of it held up. Five women and one man. Ninety minutes. Not guilty on both counts.

When the verdict was read inside Norfolk County District Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, Stefon Diggs did not speak. He did not raise a fist or exhale into the microphone. He cried. The 32-year-old former New England Patriots wide receiver, who had spent the past two days sitting in a suit sipping Red Bull while his life was picked apart in front of strangers, stood with his legal team and wept.

His mother was there. She had been there both days. A small group of supporters waited outside the courthouse. When Diggs and his mother were ushered into a car, a few of them cheered. He still said nothing.

What the Courtroom Saw

The accusation came from Jamila Adams, a 41-year-old personal chef living in Diggs' Dedham home. Adams testified that on December 2, Diggs entered her bedroom during an argument over money, slapped her, and choked her. She paused on the stand to collect herself while describing it.

The case did not slowly unravel. It collapsed almost immediately.

Adams took no photographs of injuries and never sought medical treatment. She gave Diggs a birthday gift later that same day. Within the week, she was filmed laughing and dancing with friends in Brooklyn. She texted Diggs on December 11 to apologize and tried to keep her job. She did not report the alleged assault until fourteen days later, only after she was fired and declined to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

When the defense asked whether her attorney had demanded $5.5 million from Diggs, Adams said she did not understand the question. When pressed, she blurted out that Diggs had offered her $100,000 to recant. The judge ordered the jury to disregard it, then warned Adams without the jury present: "This is not an opportunity for you to interject your own narrative. If you continue to do so, your entire testimony may be stricken."

What It Cost Him

Before this trial, Diggs had just finished one of the better seasons of his career. He caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns and helped the Patriots reach Super Bowl LX. He had a three-year, $69 million contract. He was Cardi B's partner. They had a son together, born November 2025.