KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are signing punter Matt Araiza, who was dropped from a lawsuit in December that had been filed by a woman who alleged she was raped by San Diego State football players in 2021.
The signing was announced by Araiza’s agent, Joe Linta, and confirmed a short while later by the team.
Araiza earned the nickname the “Punt God” at San Diego State while earning All-America honors during the 2021 season, when his massive kicks helped the Aztecs go a school-best 12-2 his senior season.
He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft, but he was released two days after the woman filed her lawsuit.
After a month-long investigation, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office said in December it would not file criminal charges.
The woman agreed to dismiss Araiza from the lawsuit, and he agreed to dismiss a defamation countersuit against her.