Former Buffalo Bills P Matt Araiza signing with Kansas City Chiefs
After much controversy, Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza is back in the NFL. But it's with a different team. His agency posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Kansas City Chiefs have signed Araiza. "We are proud to announce that our client @matt_araiza has signed with the @Chiefs. We are grateful to Brett Veach, coach Reid […]
After much controversy, Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza is back in the NFL. But it's with a different team.
His agency posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Kansas City Chiefs have signed Araiza.
"We are proud to announce that our client @matt_araiza has signed with the @Chiefs. We are grateful to Brett Veach, coach Reid and the @Chiefs organization for giving Matt this opportunity. Matt has been to hell and back in the last 18 months. He has handled himself with grace.
The Bills drafted the punter in the sixth round out of San Diego State in 2022. He was named the stater, but around the final preseason game was when the allegations came up. And that ended his career in Buffalo."
Araiza also released a statement through his agency.
“I am proud and honored to sign a contract with the @Chiefs
I am thrilled to be able to continue my NFL career.
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!”
Araiza was named in a lawsuit after he was drafted, alleging that he and two of his former SDSU teammates gang raped a 17-year-old girl at an off-campus party in 2021. The Bills released him the next day.
"This afternoon, we decided that releasing Matt Araiza was the best thing to do. Our culture in Buffalo is more important than winning football games," Bills General Manager Brandon Beane announced in a press conference after deciding to release Araiza.
"This was about – not a football move – it was about letting Matt go handle the situation," Beane added. "This is bigger than football."
Araiza denied the allegations immediately and no criminal charges were every filed. The lawsuit was eventually dropped and Araiza has since been cleared of all wrongdoing.
So Andy Reid is giving him a second chance.
Given the nickname, "Punt God" in college, Araiza impressed during his rookie training camp, nailing an 82-yard punt in August, 2022.
He takes those talents to Kansas City, looking to put the past behind him.
