Who is Travis Kelce’s controversial teammate Matt Araiza? Known as the ‘Punt God’, the former Buffalo Bills rookie joined the Kansas City Chiefs after shocking allegations, finally making his NFL debut
The player made his first NFL appearance on September 5 after being embroiled in a civil lawsuit since August 2022, in which Araiza and three other men were accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old
Araiza faced gang-rape allegations in 2022, just as he was about to make his rookie debut with the Buffalo Bills. The allegations and subsequent dropping of the civil suit against Araiza divided many, with some saying he used his fame to pressure the woman to back down, while others claimed he had been wrongfully named and forever damaged.
As opinions around the claims re-emerge, here is what you need to know about Matt Araiza.
What are the rape claims against Matt Araiza?
In August 2022, during a training camp as a rookie with the Buffalo Bills, Araiza was named in a civil lawsuit claiming he had taken part in the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl while attending a party. Araiza said the sex between them was consensual and he thought she was 18, having met her at a college party. He was later released by the Bills.
The Los Angeles Times reports that there were three investigations into the allegations, by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the county prosecutor’s office and San Diego State University. It was claimed Araiza had sex with the girl outside a house at an off-campus party, said ESPN and others. It was alleged he then took her inside, where at least three other men raped her for more than an hour.
Official investigations relied on video footage as well as witness statements, which allegedly showed Araiza leaving the party before the alleged rape took place. The alleged victim continued with civil litigation, which resulted in Araiza filing a defamation suit against her. Per the Los Angeles Times, the woman dropped the civil suit in exchange for Araiza’s also dropping his defamation suit.
How did the allegations impact Matt Araiza’s career?
