A former NFL star with multiple Super Bowl rings was arrested in Tennessee this week after a violent altercation with the mother of his child. Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Shaq Mason was arrested Thursday night in Franklin, Tennessee, on multiple charges connected to a violent assault against the mother of his child.
According to police, the 31-year-old free agent broke into the woman’s home around 3 a.m., where he allegedly choked her and threatened to kill her. Investigators say Mason had texted a selfie to his former partner beforehand, along with a threatening message. Officers reported observing a fresh laceration on the woman’s lip when they arrived.
Mason was later apprehended during a traffic stop and taken into custody. He was booked on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, harassment, and driving on a suspended license. His bond was set at $150,000. A representative for Mason did not respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Mason spent his first seven seasons with the Patriots, where he became a key member of the offensive line protecting quarterback Tom Brady. He won two Super Bowl titles in New England before following Brady to Tampa Bay, where the duo captured another championship in 2022 with the Buccaneers. Mason spent the past two seasons with the Houston Texans before being released in March after allowing an NFL-high eight sacks. Over his nine-year career, he earned more than $45 million in salary.
Mason, a Georgia Tech standout originally from Columbia, Tennessee, had been one of the league’s more consistent guards for much of his career. His arrest marks a steep fall for the veteran lineman, who was still seeking a team for the upcoming NFL season.
The arrest also adds to a troubling pattern of violence linked to NFL figures with Patriots ties. The team’s legacy has been stained by high-profile incidents, most infamously Aaron Hernandez, the former tight end convicted of murder in 2015 who later took his own life in prison. Antonio Brown, who briefly suited up for New England in 2019, was cut after sexual assault allegations surfaced.
Mason’s arrest comes the same week former USF football coach Jim Leavitt was charged in a domestic dispute in Florida, underscoring once again how off-field violence continues to cast a shadow over the world of football.
Mason is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
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