Reshad Jones has finally closed a painful chapter. The former Miami Dolphins safety reached a $9.5 million settlement with Merrill Lynch after a former financial adviser allegedly took $2.59 million from his accounts. Jones spent months fighting to get justice. The agreement was finalized back in August, but the news only surfaced this week. But here’s the kicker—Jones originally wanted more.

According to documents from BrokerCheck, an online database that tracks brokers and firms, he sought $16 million in damages in arbitration against Lynch. That number reflected more than just stolen money—it was about emotional and professional damage too. Yet, the final decision brought closure, even if it came at a price. So what actually happened that forced one of Miami’s fan favorites into this legal mess?

A June 25 arrest report alleges that Isaiah Williams, Reshad Jones’ former Merrill Lynch adviser, siphoned $1.56 million from the ex-NFL player’s accounts through 133 unauthorized transactions. Then there was a complex money-laundering set-up that funneled $1.03 million more. It involved a Georgia-based woman named Octivia Monique Graham, whom Jones claimed he had never met.

Further details came to light in court documents, which claimed that Williams spent the stolen money on extravagant expenses, which included, but were not limited to, airline tickets, cars, jewelry, and a duty-free shopping spree in Mexico.

In June, the sheriff’s office in Palm Beach County charged Williams with four offenses. They included first-degree organized fraud and first-degree grand-theft, both of which carry a possible 30-year prison sentence. According to the records in the sheriff’s office, however, Williams was released after posting a $1 million bond, but is now awaiting trial. And as the legal process continues, Jones can finally move forward, knowing that the fight for his stolen millions is, at last, over.

A painful saga for Reshad Jones

For Reshad Jones, losing money hurt more than any hit he ever took on the field. The guy earned over $58 million in his career, yet what Isaiah Williams took represented big chunk of his $12 million net worth. That’s brutal. Especially for a fifth-round pick who fought his way to becoming one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL. Remember 2015? 135 tackles. 5 picks. 2 pick-sixes.

However, after the incident, from day one, Jones pressed charges fast—the same old aggression he showed on Sundays. After all, this is the man who once said his career had “Hall of Fame numbers.” For 128 games, he was Miami’s human eraser—776 tackles, 21 interceptions, 6 defensive touchdowns. Still, the irony stings when you know where he came from.

Jones grew up dodging Atlanta’s rough streets, giving full credit to his grandparents for keeping him clear of “dr-gs, g-ns, and violence.” So when he trusted Isaiah Williams to guard his financial end zone, he didn’t expect a trick play. Yet through it all, Jones stayed who he’s always been—a fighter. And, in the end, Reshad Jones finally won.