Eric Wilkerson, a former NFL running back who appeared in a game with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1989, was sentenced Monday to at least 12 years in prison for the 2022 stabbing death of an Ohio man.

Wilkerson pleaded guilty last week to manslaughter and evidence tampering, FOX 8 Cleveland informed. He was initially charged with aggravated manslaughter, murder, criminal assault and record tampering in the fatal stabbing of Brian Weems II.

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Kent State University Golden Flashes running back Eric Wilkerson, #40, runs with the ball against University of Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Jerry Olsavsky, #55, during a football game college student as snow falls at Pitt Stadium on November 21, 1987 in Pittsburgh. . (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

The 56-year-old Cleveland native received an indefinite sentence of 12 to 17.5 years, the station reported. He will be on probation once he is released.

Police said that in February 2022, the men argued in an apartment and Wilkerson followed Weems into a bathroom and stabbed him multiple times before fleeing the scene.

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Eric Wilkerson carries the ball

Running back Eric Wilkerson, #40 of the Kent State Golden Flashes. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

Wilkerson was a standout athlete in Cleveland high school and went on to play college football at Kent State, where he was the Mid-American Conference MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1987.

He joined the Steelers in 1989 and then briefly signed with the Detroit Lions in 1990.

Eric Wilkerson takes the ball

Kent State University Golden Flashes running back Eric Wilkerson, #40, runs with the ball against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers during a college football game at Pitt Stadium on November 21, 1987 in Pittsburgh . (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

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He played in the World League of American Football for the New York/New Jersey Knights and the Cleveland Thunderbolts of the Arena Football League.

Associated Press contributed to this report.