Yaqub Talib Pleads Guilty To Fatally Shooting Youth Football Coach

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Talib Football fight
(Photo credit: WFAA video)

Almost one year ago, Aqib and Yaqub Talib were involved in a physical confrontation at a youth football game that resulted in the fatal shooting of a team coach.

In August 2022, in Lancaster Community Park in Lancaster, TX, coach Mike Hickmon was shot and killed and Yaqub Talib, Aqib’s older brother, was identified as the shooter. He later turned himself in to face murder charges.

Sadly, witnesses say that Aqib, a former 5x Pro Bowler, was actually the instigator and claimed that he threw the first punch at Hickmon and the coach was defending himself when he was shot by Yaqub.

In September of that year, a grand jury indicted Yaqub for murder. Afterward, Aqib stepped away from his NFL broadcasting duties with Amazon.

Yaqub’s attorney, Clark Birdsall, claimed his client acted in self-defense and that he spoke with witnesses who back up their claim that Hickman actually instigated the fight.

“Yaqub Talib acted in self-defense and defense of others,” said Birdsall at the time. “My client is not guilty. He looks forward to the day when he can have his day in court.”

Three months later, Hickmon’s family filed a lawsuit against the Talib brothers and Big XII Sports League and Family Services for more than $1 million each.

Now, almost a year after Hickmon was killed, Yaqub had his day in court and it was all bad.

Taqub pled guilty to murdering Hickmon and, according to Dallas County DA spokeswoman Claire Crouch, faces a 37-year sentence.

The civil suit is slated for a jury trial in January 2024, but the formal sentencing for Yaqub is scheduled for August 7th of this year.

We will keep you updated on the August sentencing for Yaqub Talib.