‘Punt God’ Matt Araiza, who was released from Bills after r*pe lawsuit, signs with Chiefs after getting dropped from civil case

Matt Araiza could be the answer for the Chiefs as Tommy Townsend is set to become a free agent ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

‘Punt God’ Matt Araiza, who was released from Bills after r*pe lawsuit, signs with Chiefs after getting dropped from civil case

Matt Araiza answers questions from the media during the NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine on March 5, 2022, at the Indiana Convention center Indianapolis (Image via IMAGO)

After an 18-month absence, Matt Araiza, aka ‘Punt God, is back in the NFL. He has agreed to sign a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2024 season.

Ariaza’s agent, Joe Linta, thanked Chiefs general manager Brett Veach for giving him contact information. Linda shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter).

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We are grateful to Brett Veach, Coach [Andy] Reid, and the @Chiefs organization for giving Matt this opportunity.
Linta wrote

Ariaza later released a statement via JL Sports on X. He wrote, 

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I am proud and honored to sign a contract with the Chiefs. I am thrilled to be able to continue my NFL career.

Araiza thanked his family in the post for staying beside him through thick and thin.

I am excited to begin the next phase of my career with the Super Bowl Champs!

Initially drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Ariaza did not play a single game for the team. With the Chiefs’ long-standing punter Tommy Townsend set to enter free agency in 2024, Araiza could take his place.

There were also rumors that he had signed with Galgos de Tijuana of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional in Mexico. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter later dismissed the report.

Why did not Matt Araiza play for the Buffalo Bills?

Matt Araiza was poised to start his career at Orchard Park. However, the 23-year-old found himself entangled in a lawsuit after a 17-year-old alleged gang rape charges in 2021 while still playing for San Diego State. The law of the state of California designates 17 as a minor, so the allegations were dire.

'Punt God' Matt Araiza, who was released from Bills after rape lawsuit, signs with Chiefs after getting dropped from civil case
Matt Araiza sends the ball downfield during special teams drills on the last day of the Buffalo Bills training camp at St John Fisher University in Rochester (Image via IMAGO)

In 2022, Araiza was named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit case in which two of his teammates from Sand Diego State were part of an off-campus party in 2021. He denied the allegations as baseless and false. Araiza’s attorney described the appeal as ‘a’money grab’ from Jane Doe. But she insisted on being unaware of Araiza’s background before filing the lawsuit.

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office did not file charges against the punter or his two teammates. It issued a statement,

It is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges, and there is no path to a potential criminal conviction.

On July 28, 2023, Araiza filed a defamation lawsuit against his accuser. But in December, both sides decided to mutually close the chapter by dropping the lawsuits. But Araiza still retains the right to sue his accuser in the future.

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