23 February 2024 , 03:00
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Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza has been given another chance in the NFL by the Kansas City Chiefs after a rape lawsuit against him was dropped. He's back on an NFL team for the first time since he faced those claims, which have now been withdrawn.
Araiza was cut by the Bills before he could even start his first season in the NFL because of charges of rape from an alleged incident in 2021. He was a top prospect entering the league, earning the nickname 'Punt God' during his impressive college career.
The 23-year-old spent nearly a year protesting his innocence. Eventually, he was cleared by prosecutors who concluded he was not present when the alleged incident took place.
Araiza shared the good news that the Chiefs had signed him with a message from his agency: "I am proud and honored to sign a contract with the @Chiefs. I am thrilled to be able to continue my NFL career. I want to thank my family, who have been my rock and my many friends who have been unwavering in their support."
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Back in December, Araiza's name was taken out of the lawsuit by a woman who said she was raped by football players from San Diego State University in 2021. Araiza decided to stop his own legal fight against her for defamation, and she agreed to withdraw him from her lawsuit, his lawyers said.
That same month, Araiza said that the experience "changed him" and insisted he wanted another shot to play in the NFL. At a press conference, he shared: "My name, my reputation - this will always be linked to me, it won't disappear.
It was hard seeing the hurt it caused my family, because even though I've been proven innocent, they had absolutely nothing to do with this.
"When I was cut, I was an NFL starter, had just beat out an NFL veteran. I was on a four-year contract and that won't be handed back to me. No one in the NFL is going to go, 'Here's the job that you once had,' so working to regain where I was at is my primary goal right now. I'm confident that I will be able to regain my NFL career - whenever that is. I believe it's more of a when, not an if."
Araiza has found himself a good landing spot with the reigning Super Bowl champions, who will go for a historic third win in a row next season. The Chiefs' current punter, Tommy Townsend, will become a free agent this offseason.