Freddie Mitchell last played wide receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.
His attorney, Rick Jancha, said Tuesday that Mitchell was sentenced to 37 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to file a false claim. He faced a maximum 10 years in prison. His sentence begins Dec. 6.
Prosecutors say Mitchell and two others schemed to file a false tax return for another professional athlete.
The 34-year-old Mitchell told the athlete, only identified as "A.G.," that he could help him get a bigger tax refund from the IR.S. He and two associates then filed a return on behalf of A.G. that contained blatantly false information.
