New Kansas City Chiefs punter Matt Araiza is looking forward to a fresh start.
And also an extended NFL opportunity — at long last.
Araiza, a 2022 sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills, was released in August that year after he was named in a civil lawsuit that claimed he took part in a gang rape.
More than a year later, the accuser withdrew the civil lawsuit against Araiza, according to reporting from Yahoo’s Dan Wetzel. In addition, the local police and prosecutor’s office declined to recommend charges, while a separate investigation from San Diego State also stated it had no findings against Araiza, per Wetzel.
The Chiefs signed Araiza in February.
“There was a lot of moments where I thought it was over,” Araiza said Monday, referring to his NFL career, “so I’m incredibly grateful to be here.”
The most recent happenings with Araiza’s case didn’t receive as much attention as the initial rape allegations.
Araiza, via Wetzel’s reporting, has admitted to having consensual sex at an off-campus party with a woman he believed was 18. At the time, Araiza was 21.
The then-17-year-old girl, according to prosecutors, claimed to multiple witnesses at the party that she was 18 years old. Prosecutors also said the gang rape she alleged Araiza participated in took place more than a half-hour after Araiza had already left the party.
After a 124-day investigation, prosecutors announced in December 2022 that they would not press charges against Araiza after conducting 35 interviews with 10 search warrants.
Araiza was asked Monday what he wanted fans to know about him as a person following the circumstances of the past three years.
“Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion,” Araiza said, “but I think if you do your own research, I think you can come to a pretty clear conclusion.”
Araiza — nicknamed “Punt God” during his storied career at San Diego State — will replace punter Tommy Townsend, who signed an offseason free-agent deal with Houston.
The left-footed Araiza received plenty of national attention in college. Sports Illustrated titled a story about him, “Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God,” in April 2022, while he was also featured on ESPN’s College GameDay.
Araiza, 24, has impressed coach Andy Reid with his kicks thus far.
“You can see it. He’s booming the thing,” Reid said. “Will be curious to see in games. We’ll see how he does there.”
Before his release from the Bills, Araiza showed off his big leg in his only 2022 preseason game, producing an 82-yard punt against the Colts.
Araiza said Monday that his greatest attributes are his power and consistency. He also thinks his left-footed punts can help create turnovers.
“Especially when the ball starts moving, it’ll tail at the last second, and guys who aren’t used to lefties, sometimes they’re not even close to it,” Araiza said. “They’re like five yards away.”
The Chiefs know how important mishandled punts can be. One of the most significant plays of last season’s Super Bowl, in fact, was recovering a 49ers fumbled punt late in the third quarter.
That recovery was more luck-based while bouncing off a blocker’s foot. Araiza could potentially cause some fits to returners who aren’t yet used to his spin.
“I’ve caused a ton of drops here, and I’m looking to see that on Sundays. I think that would be great,” Araiza said. “If someone muffs a punt, that is a huge, game-changing play.”
Araiza was battling rookie punter Ryan Rekhow for the position this summer before the Chiefs released Rekhow in June.
That means Araiza will make his unofficial return to the NFL during Saturday’s preseason game at Jacksonville.
Even after the difficulties of the last three years, Araiza said Monday he “couldn’t be happier with life right now.”
“Just happy and grateful. Maybe it’s perspective being away from the game,” Araiza said. “But just incredibly grateful to be here.”
