New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore is facing a domestic assault charge following an alleged incident that authorities say occurred in Massachusetts last summer.
Court records from Attleborough District Court obtained by local ABC station WCVB show the 26-year-old has been charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a family or household member. The charge is tied to an alleged August 8 incident in Mansfield involving a woman identified as being in a relationship with Barmore at the time.
According to charging documents, police were told the situation escalated during a dispute inside Barmore’s home. The argument reportedly began over the temperature of the air conditioning in his bedroom and later escalated into a dispute about food. The woman told officers that, as she attempted to leave the house, Barmore took her phone from her hand.
The documents state the woman intended to open the door and call out for help, but was allegedly grabbed and thrown to the floor before she could do so. She further alleged that Barmore grabbed her shirt near her neck area as she tried to get up, before eventually letting her go. Police noted in their report that Barmore later rushed toward her but did not make physical contact.
Authorities say the alleged incident occurred in front of the couple’s 2-year-old child. The woman reported bruising and told officers she provided photographs documenting her injuries. Court records also indicate she used a team-provided car service to travel with her child to Delaware shortly after the incident.
While the woman later sent an email to police on December 4 stating she did not wish to proceed with charges, a criminal complaint was formally issued on December 16. According to the report, she initially delayed coming forward due to fear of retaliation.
Barmore is scheduled to be arraigned on February 3, 2026, just days before Super Bowl LX. The Patriots released a statement confirming they were aware of the alleged incident at the time it occurred. They notified the NFL at that time, adding that they will continue to cooperate with the league while respecting the legal process.
The development comes as New England prepares for its regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins while holding the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Head coach Mike Vrabel is expected to address the matter during his scheduled press conference this week.
Barmore, a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, previously apologized in 2024 after initially alleging racial bias following a traffic citation in Rhode Island. He also missed time during the 2024 season after being diagnosed with blood clots.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. In the U.S., the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or by visiting thehotline.org for confidential support.