Editors’ note: This story contains accounts of sexual assault. If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or at https://www.rainn.org
Former Bills punter Matt Araiza will play for the Galgos de Tijuana of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional following his release from Buffalo last summer, the Mexican team announced.
Araiza, who earned the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in the nation coming out of San Diego State in 2022, was released by the Bills without playing in a regular-season game after being named in a gang rape lawsuit in regard to an October 2021 incident.
However, the news of the apparent signing isn’t without controversy. Araiza’s agent, Joe Linta, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the punter never signed with the Mexican team and remains a free agent.
Araiza ultimately avoided charges in the case but is still a subject of a civil suit filed last August. Araiza, along with former SDSU teammates Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko, are being sued for the incident involving a 17-year-old girl during a party at an off-campus residence.
The complaint alleges that Araiza, Leonard and Ewaliko raped and assaulted her for approximately 90 minutes until the party was shut down.
After a criminal investigation was conducted, the San Diego County district attorney’s office determined there was not enough evidence to support a criminal conviction of Araiza or his former teammates.
“Ultimately, prosecutors determined it is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges and there is no path to a potential criminal conviction,” the office said in a statement. “Prosecutors can only file charges when they ethically believe they can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
