The New England Patriots ended 2025 on a very uncertain note with legal trouble for star wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore.
Both stars face criminal charges, and that could affect how long they can play going forward for the Patriots (13-3), which are set for the No. 2 in the AFC. The NFL addressed the statuses for both Diggs and Barmore on Wednesday regarding their alleged conduct.
“Regarding both the Diggs and Barmore matters which are under review of the Personal Conduct Policy,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy wrote via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Wednesday. “There is no change to the status of Diggs or Barmore. Both are eligible to play at this time.”
“Pursuant to the Personal Conduct Policy, consideration for placement on the Commissioner Exempt List may be considered following formal charges in the form of an indictment by a grand jury, the filing of charges by a prosecutor, or an arraignment in a criminal court,” McCarthy concluded.
Diggs has a felony charge of strangulation or suffocation from an alleged altercation with his personal chef on Dec. 2. Diggs also faces misdemeanor charges of assault and battery. The incident came to light in the news on Tuesday.
Barmore faces misdemeanor charges for domestic assault, which involved the mother of their 2-year-old child. The Patriots have known about it all season, but it hit the news on Wednesday.
“The Patriots were made aware at the time of the incident and informed the NFL in a timely manner,” the Patriots said in a team statement. “The matter remains part of an ongoing legal process.”
When Stefon Diggs, Christian Barmore Could Miss Games
The NFL’s decision on Diggs and Barmore isn’t conclusive at the moment, and legal proceedings could impact both Diggs and Barmore in the coming weeks.
Diggs has an arraignment on Jan. 23 ahead of the AFC Championship Game. Barmore’s arraignment falls on Feb. 3 ahead of the Super Bowl.
In addition, if Diggs and Barmore land on the NFL Commissioner’s Exempt List, neither will be able to practice or play in games. Both could be big losses for the Patriots’ postseason run.
Diggs leads all Patriots receivers with 82 catches, 970 yards, and four touchdowns. Barmore, who has started 15 games, doesn’t have the biggest numbers with 26 tackles and a sack, but he has been a consistent performer this season.
Patriots Mike Vrabel: ‘Not Afraid’
New England head coach Mike Vrabel isn’t fretting over the uncertainties surrounding two key players in Diggs and Barmore.
“Afraid? No, not afraid,” Vrabel told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m 50 years old. Gonna be 51. I’m not afraid. I love coaching this football team.”
In his first year, Vrabel has turned around the Patriots from back-to-back 3-14 seasons to a Super Bowl contender. New England won the AFC East for the first time since 2019, and the Patriots could end an eight-year playoff win drought.
While Vrabel isn’t letting Diggs’s and Barmore’s situations wreck New England’s season, the coach is owning the organization’s responsibility over two players in legal trouble. New England wraps up the regular season in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins.
“These are allegations,” Vrabel said. “It’s two things that we have to handle. Every day, there are distractions, some smaller than others. I’m confident that we’ll focus on the Dolphins, and those two individuals … will be able to handle the ongoing legal process.”
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