Chiefs sign Matt Araiza after punter dropped from lawsuit

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs have signed punter Matt Araiza, who was fired in December following a lawsuit alleging the rape of a 17-year-old girl in 2021.

“We are grateful to Brett Veach, Coach Reid and the @Chiefs organization for giving Matt this opportunity,” the agent said. Joe Linta wrote on X.

Tommy Townsend, the Chiefs' punter in each of the last four seasons, is set to become an unrestricted free agent next month. Townsend was a first-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022.

The girl, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, excluded Araiza from the lawsuit filed in August 2022, and Araiza agreed to dismiss a defamation suit against Doe filed in July 2023.

“I am proud and honored to sign a contract with the @Chiefs,” Araiza said in a statement released through his agent. “I am thrilled to be able to continue my career in the NFL. I would like to thank my family, who have been my rock, and my many friends who have provided me with unwavering support. I am excited to begin the next phase of my career with the Super Bowl Champions!”

Araiza, 23, played in college at San Diego State. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but never appeared in an NFL game. The Bills released Araiza in the summer of 2022, shortly after he was named in the rape trial.

The San Diego District Attorney's Office announced in December 2022 that no criminal charges would be filed in this case.

The New York Jets brought Araiza in for a workout last May.