NFL player Chris McCain just dodged a bullet ... striking a plea deal that'll keep him outta jail after he was accused of spitting and grabbing a woman by the neck.
TMZ Sports has learned Chris McCain -- a 26 year old NFL free agent defensive end who at the time was on the Colts -- pled no contest to 2 misdemeanor counts of battery in an Los Angeles court.
We broke the story ... McCain was accused of spitting on a woman and forcefully grabbing her neck in L.