The “God of Punting” is on his way back to the NFL.
Former Bills punter Matt Arraiza, who was fired by Buffalo after being accused of rape by a 17-year-old California girl in 2021, has joined the Kansas City Chiefs after the charges were dropped, according to his agent Joe Rinta. He has signed a contract with.
“Thank you to Brett Veach, Coach Reed, and the @Chiefs organization for giving Matt this opportunity,” Rinta wrote.
We are proud to announce to our clients that @matt_araiza I signed @chief . Thank you to Brett Veach, Coach Reed, and the team. @chief The organization that gave Matt this opportunity.
Matt has been in and out of hell for the past 18 months.he handled himself with grace
— JL Sports (@JLSports3) February 22, 2024
“I’m proud and honored to sign with the @Chiefs,” Araiza said in a statement. “I’m excited to continue my NFL career. I would like to thank my family for supporting me and my many friends for their unwavering support. We are excited to start this phase!”
Araiza’s accuser, identified only as Jane Doe, withdrew the former bill from the lawsuit in 2022. A defamation lawsuit was filed against Araiza, but Araiza withdrew the lawsuit in the summer of 2023.
Araiza will have a big job ahead of her. Not only will he join a team that won the last Super Bowl, but he will also compete to replace Kansas City’s All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend, who is set to become a free agent.
Matt Arraiza, No. 19 of the Buffalo Bills, makes a punt during Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College on July 24, 2022 in Pittsford, New York. (Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
Arraiza, a sixth-round pick of the Bills in the 2022 NFL Draft, never played a down game in Buffalo until rape allegations derailed his career. The promising punter, who earned the nickname “The Punting God” during his stellar career at San Diego State University, will now have a chance to make his name known again. This time it’s strictly about soccer.
