Aqib Talib is stepping away from his new gig commentating on NFL games for Amazon due to his brother’s murder charge over a fatal shooting of a youth football coach in the Dallas area, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
"In light of the recent tragedy, he is going to step aside from his broadcasting duties at Amazon to spend time with his family," tweeted Rapoport.
The five-time Pro Bowler and nascent broadcaster hasn’t been charged with a crime, but witnesses say he instigated the fight that led to the shooting. Aqib and his brother, Yaqub, were helping coach kids at a football game Aug. 13, and after the contest ended, Aqib apparently ran onto the field to confront the referees and opposing coaches.
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Video obtained by Dallas’ WFAA shows a group of men chasing another man who was fighting them off with a down marker. That person, Mike Hickmon, was eventually shot. Aqib Talib is accused of throwing the first punch. Authorities say Yaqub Talib pulled the trigger.
Yaqub Talib turned himself in at the Dallas County Jail last Monday and faces murder charges.
Aqib Talib, 36, played 12 seasons in the NFL, including two with the Patriots from 2012-13. In addition to making five Pro Bowls, he was named First-Team All Pro in 2016 and Second-Team All Pro in 2013. He was part of the Broncos’ Super Bowl winning team in ’16.
This offseason, Talib signed with Amazon to help with its “Thursday Night Football” coverage. He worked as an analyst for FOX Sports for the last couple of seasons, where he largely earned positive reviews for his unconventional and bombastic style.
The Talib brothers have been investigated for multiple shootings over the years, perhaps most notably in 2016, when Aqib accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Las Vegas nightclub. The incident caused him to miss the Broncos’ Super Bowl celebration at the White House.
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