Matt Araiza Signs With Kansas City Chiefs After Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dropped

(Many of the links in this article redirect to a specific reviewed product. Your purchase of these products through affiliate links helps to generate commission for Splashnewsonline.com, at no extra cost. Learn more)

The former Buffalo Bills punter, Matt Araiza, has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, marking a significant move in his football career. This comes approximately two months after the sexual assault lawsuit against him was dropped by his accuser.

Handling Adversity

Araiza’s agents took to social media to announce the news, commending the 23-year-old for his resilience and conduct throughout the challenging period following the allegations. They expressed gratitude to the Chiefs organization for providing Araiza with the opportunity to move forward in his career.

Allegations and Legal Developments

The allegations against Araiza stemmed from a lawsuit filed in August 2022, in which a woman accused him and two of his college football teammates of raping her at a Halloween party in 2021. Araiza vehemently denied the claims, and in December 2022, prosecutors announced that they would not pursue criminal charges against him, citing the absence of a path to potential conviction.

Subsequently, in December 2023, Araiza’s attorneys revealed that the accuser had dropped the lawsuit following an agreement between the parties. It was emphasized that Araiza was not providing any monetary compensation to the plaintiff and reserved the right to pursue legal action against the plaintiff’s attorney and law office for the harm caused to him.

Football Career

Araiza, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, had been set to assume the role of the Bills’ starting punter before the allegations surfaced. With his move to the Chiefs, he will now be vying for the position of the team’s punter, particularly with the expectation of Tommy Townsend, the Chiefs’ incumbent punter, entering free agency in the upcoming offseason.