Kansas City Chiefs sign punter Matt Araiza
The maligned punter spent 18 months unemployed after the Buffalo Bills released him in the fallout of a rape allegation. Now cleared, he is back in the NFL.
The man once known as “The Punt God” seems to have found a new home in the NFL after spending 18 months in the wilderness. Matt Araiza’s agency, JL Sports, has announced that the punter has signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2024 season. The AFC West franchise has confirmed the report.
The San Diego State graduate was drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, but was left without a team after being cut by the Buffalo Bills four months later as a result of the fallout of a lawsuit in which he was named as having participated in the gang rape of a young woman on the university campus in 2021.
At the end of 2022, prosecutors announced that Araiza would not be charged and the woman agreed to remove his name from the lawsuit in exchange for Araiza dropping a defamation lawsuit against her. The 23-year-old punter says that he is grateful to be able to continue his NFL career with the Chiefs.
“I am proud and honored to sign a contract with the Chiefs. I am thrilled to be able to continue my NFL career,” said Araiza. “I want to thank my family, who have been my rock and my many friends who have been unwavering in their support. I am excited to begin the next phase of my career with the Super Bowl Champs!”
Why did the Chiefs sign Matt Araiza?
One of the reasons the Chiefs signed Matt Araiza is because Tommy Townsend, who has spent the last four years as Kansas City’s punter, is a free agent. His resumé includes being named first team All-Pro in 2022 and again in 2023.
With the complicated situation of other free agents on their roster such as defensive tackle Chris Jones, safety Mike Edwards, offensive tackle Donovan Smith and guard Nick Edwards, the Chiefs felt that Townsend was one step too far and Araiza, given his rehabilitation status, is the more economic option.