In a courtroom drama that captivated the NFL world, former New England Patriots star wide receiver Stefon Diggs was acquitted Tuesday of charges that he assaulted his live-in personal chef. The veteran pass-catcher, known for his electrifying plays on the gridiron, walked out of a Massachusetts courthouse a free man after a jury cleared him of felony strangulation or suffocation and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge.

Dressed sharply in a gray suit and tie, Diggs nodded calmly as the verdict was read, bringing a swift conclusion to a case that had cast a shadow over his off-season. The incident, which stemmed from a reported pay dispute, had been a jarring headline for a player who just months earlier was making headlines for his Super Bowl appearance with the Patriots.

Personal chef Jamila Adams initially reported the alleged assault to police in December, claiming that Diggs struck her in the face and attempted to choke her "using the crook of his elbow around her neck," according to the official police report. Adams also disclosed that she and Diggs had previously been in a sexual relationship, adding complexity to the case.

Diggs, 32, had pleaded not guilty in February, just days after taking the field in the Super Bowl. His legal team firmly denied any assault occurred, pointing to what they described as financial demands made by Adams' representatives on the eve of the trial. After a two-day trial, the jury deliberated for roughly 90 minutes before exonerating Diggs on both counts, according to local media reports.

Now a free agent following his release from the Patriots, Diggs faces an uncertain future on the field. Off the field, his personal life has also been in the spotlight, having dated rapper Cardi B—with whom he welcomed a child last November—though the celebrity couple has reportedly since split. For now, the veteran receiver can focus on his next chapter, both in football and beyond, with this legal chapter firmly closed.