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?

As per a June 25 arrest report, Isaiah Williams, his former adviser at Merrill Lynch, exploited his access to Reshad Jones’ accounts to siphon off $1.56 million through 133 separate transactions. And that wasn’t all. Another $1.03 million bounced between bank and Cash App transfers in an elaborate laundering web, and Octivia Monique Graham, a woman from Georgia, was also part of it. Jones told investigators he had never even met her. However, Court filings painted an even uglier picture.

Williams allegedly splurged the stolen cash on airline tickets, hotels, strip clubs, luxury cars, jewelry, and even duty-free shopping sprees in Mexico. Investment News first broke the settlement on Wednesday, while Merrill Lynch stayed quiet. Jones’ attorneys, Chase Carlson and Jeff Sonn, also declined comment, instead pointing to a prior statement calling the case “another troubling example of a professional athlete being exploited.” Sadly, that line says it all.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office booked Williams in June on four counts, including first-degree organized fraud and first-degree grand theft—each carrying up to 30 years in prison. He’s currently out on a $1 million bond, 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 nearly 20% of his $12 million net worth. That’s brutal. Especially for a fifth-round pick who fought his way to becoming the NFL’s highest-paid safety. Remember 2015? 135 tackles. 5 picks. 2 pick-sixes. The first defensive back ever with 125+ tackles and 5+ INTs in one season.

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.