Punter Matt Araiza Gets Second Chance, Returns To NFL With Kansas City Chiefs

Matt Araiza is getting a second chance in the NFL.

And he's getting it from the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The former Buffalo Bills punter, who was cut by the team that drafted him in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, has been out of the NFL since August of 2022 when allegations of his involvement in a 2021 rape of a 17-year-old at San Diego State arose. The Chiefs confirmed the signing on Thursday afternoon.

Matt Araiza of the Buffalo Bills punts during Bills training camp at Saint John Fisher University on July 24, 2022 in Pittsford, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)

Araiza ‘Proud’ To Sign With Chiefs

A police investigation found no evidence to support the rape allegation, so he was not criminally charged by prosecutors. An SDSU investigation similarly cleared Araiza.

But Araiza nonetheless faced a civil lawsuit filed by the alleged victim, who went by Jane Doe in her court filings. That civil action was in play until last December when Doe agreed to drop Araiza from her claim. Araiza similarly agreed to drop the women from a defamation suit on a counterclaim.

Despite being cleared and working out for the New York Jets last year, Araiza remained out of the NFL.

Until Thursday.

"I am proud and honored to sign a contract with the Chiefs," Araiza said in a statement distributed by his representation at JL Sports. "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!"

San Diego State Aztecs place kicker Matt Araiza kicks an extra point during the Mountain West Championship in 2021. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Matt Araiza To Rebuild Reputation

This is a much different reaction than the one Araiza offered even when he was initially fully cleared in December. At that time, Araiza said the ordeal had "changed me a lot" and that he wanted another shot at the NFL but was uncertain if it would happen.

"My name, my reputation — this will be tied to me forever, that won’t go away," he said at a December news conference. "It was tough to watch the pain that it caused my family, because I have been proven innocent but they for sure had absolutely nothing to do with this."

That rebuilding process continues with this next step.

It must be noted that Jane Doe continued legal proceedings against four other San Diego State University players she claimed were part of a gang rape. So this continues to be a painful process for her.

But, for Araiza, the sun has dawned on what has been a dark time in his life.

"Matt has been to hell and back in the last 18 months. He has handled himself with grace," agent Joe Linta said in a statement. "Matt can now move forward knowing that this ordeal is behind him. We are grateful to [general manager] Brett Veach, coach [Andy] Reid and the Chiefs organization for giving Matt this opportunity."

Chiefs Address Apparent Opening At Punter

It's still unclear what type of deal Araiza is getting from the Chiefs. When he was drafted, he signed a four-year rookie deal with the Bills and had beaten out veteran Matt Haack for the punting job.

Araiza was dubbed the "Punt god" when set an NCAA record with a 51.2-yard average on his punts in 2021. Araiza seems to initially have a clear path to the roster spot, because Chiefs incumbent punter Tommy Townsend is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March.