Former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib is stepping away from his role as a commentator for Amazon Prime’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcasts following his brother’s arrest on a murder charge.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday night that he spoke with Talib, who told him he is stepping back “to spend time with family.”
Talib, who spent 12 seasons in the NFL, officially joined Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” in July as a contributor to pregame, halftime, and postgame broadcasts.
The former defensive back, 36, and his brother Yaqub Talib, 39, were jointly coaching the North Dallas United Bobcats, a youth football team, when a disagreement between opposing coaching staffs reportedly became physical on August 13 in Lancaster.
The disagreement escalated with Aqib allegedly throwing a punch at Dragons Elite Academy coach Mike Hickmon. Then, Yaqub allegedly shot Hickmon, as reported by The Dallas Express, leaving the 43-year-old father of three dead.
Yaqub turned himself into Dallas County jail on August 15 after a murder warrant was put out for his arrest.
While Aqib has not been charged with a crime, some are calling for his arrest as well, with witnesses telling WFAA that he started the brawl that led to Hickmon’s death.
Aqib was allegedly upset with a penalty call and ran onto the playing field to confront the referees, and the scuffle broke out shortly after that.
“[Aqib Talib] ran across the field and ran over on our sideline and got in the ref’s face,” Coach Heith Mayes, who witnessed the incident, alleged to WFAA.
“He threw the first punch, and you see Mike trying to defend himself,” Mayes added.
Frank Perez, the former defensive back’s attorney, released a statement in the wake of the shooting, confirming Aqib’s presence during the incident.
“Aqib was present when this unfortunate incident occurred and is very distraught and devastated over this terrible loss of life,” Perez said. “He would like to convey his condolences to the family of the victim and to everyone who witnessed this unfortunate tragedy.”