Former NFL linebacker Micheal Barrow found himself in handcuffs outside Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after a family dispute spiraled out of control Monday night.
The 55-year-old former Miami Hurricanes star was charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery following what police described as an incident where he was accused of unintentionally striking his wife.
Police Take Micheal Barrow Into Custody After Chaotic Family Altercation
The former second-round pick from the 1993 draft was arrested after what witnesses described as a chaotic scene involving multiple family members. The incident has put the ex-linebacker back in headlines for all the wrong reasons.
If the altercation was serious, then it could be the start of the family man’s dramatic fall for someone who once patrolled NFL fields as a defensive stalwart. Thankfully, it was an accidental low-level assault involving physical contact as police stated.
Deputies were called to Terminal 4 around 9 p.m., where witnesses reported seeing Barrow in a fight with family members. According to the arrest report, the altercation actually began as a heated family argument that quickly turned physical.
Ex-NFL LB Micheal Barrow Arrested After Accidentally Punching Wife, Cops Say | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/wsVtcS9TF5 pic.twitter.com/hKfVlCg72k
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) September 3, 2025
Police said in the report that Barrow threw a punch intended for another family member during the dispute but “inadvertently struck Shelley in the face, which caused her to fall to the ground.” The accidental contact reportedly escalated an already volatile situation.
The altercation didn’t end there. His elder son as a witness said that “He observed his mother on the ground and his father punching his younger brother.” And that ultimately led to a wrestling match with him as bystanders watched the scene unfold outside the busy airport terminal.
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Barrow was taken into custody on Monday and charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery. He was processed through the Broward County jail system and later released on a $5,000 bond, according to jail records.
Micheal Barrow’s Journey From Hurricane Hero to Troubling Headlines
Barrow was always known as a decorated college and professional football player before the recent arrest. At Miami University, he was one of the Hurricanes’ important defenders during their golden era. He helped the team win two national championships in 1989 and 1991.
Barrow also earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1992. His football IQ, with the combination of size and speed, caught scouts’ attention. The very next year, the Houston Oilers picked him with the 47th overall pick.
The linebacker played 12 seasons with the Houston Oilers, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys before hanging up his cleats. He later moved into coaching, working at his alma mater, Miami, and eventually joining the Seattle Seahawks’ staff.
However, he stepped away from coaching in August 2014 to focus on family obligations, specifically to care for his mother. He said, “This was an extremely tough decision to leave my dream job. However, I have a very important family obligation that requires my full attention.”
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Hopefully, the minor arrest consequence he faced won’t damage his public image as a true family man and respected football player. Quite frankly, it seemed like just another ordinary family dispute that accidentally played out in front of a bystander at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.