Ray Rice can now sign with any NFL team after his suspension was vacated on appeal on Friday.
The former Ravens running back was indefinitely suspended by Commissioner Roger Goodell, but a former U.S. District Judge found that he was punished twice for one offense.
Rice was caught on video knocking his then-fiancée, Janay, unconscious by punching her in the face in an Atlantic City casino elevator in February. Initial footage released to the public only showed Rice dragging Janay out of the elevator after the assault, and he received a two-game suspension.
Subsequently released footage showed the 27-year-old hitting Janay, and Rice was cut from the Ravens, and indefinitely suspended from the NFL. Charges against him were dropped after Janay declined to testify. The couple married less than two months after the assault.
Judge Barbara Jones found that the NFL did not find out about the assault in stages as the public did, and that Rice was forthcoming when interviewed by the league.
"I find that the indefinite suspension was an abuse of discretion and must be vacated," Judge Jones wrote.
"I find that the NFLPA carried its burden of showing that Rice did not mislead the Commissioner at the June 16th meeting, and therefore, that the imposition of a second suspension based on the same incident and the same known facts about the incident, was arbitrary."
Rice is now a free agent, and may be entitled to back pay for the games he missed while suspended.
"I would like to thank Judge Barbara Jones, the NFL Players Association, my attorneys, agents, advisors, family, friends and fans -- but most importantly, my wife Janay," Rice said in a statement. "I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions.
"I am thankful that there was a proper appeals process in place to address this issue. I will continue working hard to improve myself and be the best husband, father and friend, while giving back to my community and helping others to learn from my mistakes."
Janay also celebrated the decision.
"It feels unbelievable," she told ESPN. "It's a relief. We've been telling the same story for months and we always had faith that we'd done the right thing. Everyone deserves a second chance. We're excited about what the future will bring."
