Bruce Arians had a strong message for Antonio Brown just minutes before his decision to take his shirt off and storm out of the game.
In Week 17 of the 2021 season, Brown took off his jersey, shoulder pads, and helmet, and strutted off the field while gesturing to the fans.
In the post-game press conference, Arians told reporters that Brown was no longer a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster.
Speaking on the Not Just Football podcast, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and current consultant Bruce Arians discussed the controversial incident that led to Antonio Brown leaving the team.
Before halftime, Brown was frustrated at the lack of passes he was receiving, and told Arians he wouldn't return to the game if he didn't get any passes. Arians told Brown to leave, but didn't expect the former All-Pro WR to follow through with that comment.
Bruce Arians:"That's probably my fault. Mike (Evans) got hurt, Chris (Godwin) got hurt, he got like 12 or 13 targets the week before. I thought we'd tear the Jets up. They double-teamed him the whole time.
"So, Gronk was getting the balls in the middle, and he got upset at halftime and just said he wasn't going back in if he wasn't getting the ball. And I told him to get the h*** out of here, and he took it literally.
"I love AB to death, man. Nobody works harder on the practice field than AB, nobody plays harder than AB. It's just, sometimes, he gets in his own way."
The incident would mark the end of Brown's career, not just with the Buccaneers, but the NFL as a whole. After the game, both Arians and Tom Brady noted that Brown wouldn't return to the team.
Days later, Brown alleged that Arians and the Buccaneers had covered up his injuries and asked him to play, which is why he left the game in protest.
The Buccaneers released Brown just days after the incident, after which he claimed he got surgery. Despite trying to make a comeback after leaving the Buccaneers, Brown would announce his retirement from the NFL the following year.
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