Stefon Diggs pleads not guilty to assault charge

With the 2025 NFL season concluded, New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs is addressing an off-field legal issue. Diggs has been charged with assault by his personal chef, with the alleged incident involving slapping and attempting to choke the chef over an unpaid bill. Diggs appeared in Dedham, Massachusetts, District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The arraignment satisfies a potential requirement for the NFL to consider placing Diggs on paid leave, though the league will not act on this now since the season has ended. Diggs has a seven-month window to resolve the legal matter before the NFL reviews the situation for possible disciplinary action.

Attorney Mitchell Schuster, representing Diggs, stated that the allegations are false and expressed confidence in Diggs' exoneration following a review of the facts and evidence. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for April 1, and Diggs has been ordered to avoid contact with the alleged victim.