Controversial former NFL star Antonio Brown has named Donald Trump and Elon Musk as his ‘free speech’ winners of the year in a bizarre tribute on social media.
Brown, who joined Trump on his election campaign trail earlier this year, has become known for his unusual antics online since playing his final game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.
And heading into 2025, the former wide receiver has gone viral once again with his unofficial ‘Cracker of the Year’ awards on X.
After handing out prizes to the likes of Joe Rogan (Podcast Episode of the Year) and Shane Gillis (Funniest Cracker of the Year), Brown saved his last award on New Year’s Eve for Trump and Musk.
‘Last day of the yr & last award of the yr. This is a special one bc it’s what this platform stands for,’ he wrote.
‘It’s what @elonmusk gave back to us when he bought @X – Free Speech!’
Former NFL star Antonio Brown has posted a bizarre tribute to Elon Musk and Donald Trump
Last day of the yr & last award of the yr. This is a special one bc it’s what this platform stands for. It’s what @elonmusk gave back to us when he bought @X Free Speech! 🆓 🗣️ Congrats to @freespeechcto …it’s not just a token, its a movementP. S. Hbd @DonaldJTrumpJr pic.twitter.com/gR8IcT9ybw
— AB (@AB84) December 31, 2024 
Brown joined Trump on his election campaign trail before his huge win over Kamala Harris
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Brown’s post also included a mocked-up graphic of the three of them wearing Roman gladiator outfits while announcing Trump and Musk as winners of the award.
The ex-Buccaneers and Steelers player has been an extremely vocal supporter of Trump in the months leading up to and after his resounding win over Kamala Harris.
He even attended a Trump rally and led a voter registration drive at a tailgate party – both in Pittsburgh – before the 78-year-old was ultimately elected as president for a second time.
Brown and former Steelers teammate Le’Veon Bell both appeared onstage next to Trump, before greeting him on the tarmac when he landed back in Pittsburgh shortly after for their old team’s game against the New York Jets.
Three weeks after the election he also continued to take aim at the Democrats on social media and Biden was in his sights on Thanksgiving.
Biden endured a number of high-profile gaffes that ultimately forced him to withdraw from the election race, including calling Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky ‘President Putin ‘ and confusing Harris for Trump.
Brown tapped into Biden’s confusion on Thanksgiving and posted a picture of the 82-year-old holding a turkey with the caption: ‘Happy Easter’.
The seven-time Pro Bowlerlast appeared on the field in January 2022 – when he ripped off his pads and jersey at MetLife Stadium in the middle of a game against the Jets and headed to the locker room.
