The Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent punter Matt Araiza on Thursday, marking their first significant move of the offseason since winning Super Bowl LVIII.
Araiza, known to his fans as “Punt God”, was a decorated player as a collegian at San Diego State University, earning All-American honors and the Ray Guy Trophy in 2021.
Source: #Chiefs are signing free agent punter Matt Araiza.
Araiza, a sixth-round pick in 2022, was out of football last year due to a rape lawsuit, which was dropped in December. pic.twitter.com/DdfrgDq0Ax
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 22, 2024
Initially selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Araiza’s professional career was nearly ended by a lawsuit that was dismissed in December.
His signing may mark the end of Tommy Townsend’s tenure in Kansas City, which made some fans feel uneasy about the signing when news of his acquisition by the Chiefs broke this week.
Townsend had become a cherished member of Kansas City’s special teams unit and, with his future now unclear, users on Twitter were quick to react to Araiza’s signing.
Check out their top posts about the move below:
Here’s some info on why the case against Araiza was dismissed. https://t.co/qYNTOva6Tl https://t.co/6UfzhF45LM pic.twitter.com/xaY1RMyxus
— Brandon Kiley (@BKSportsTalk) February 22, 2024
Solid move, if Townsend intends on getting paid the bag. This dude was all world coming out of San Diego State. Do we know if he can sling it when called upon though??#ChiefsKingdom https://t.co/uBESQYx65o
— Chief Concerns (@ConcernsChief) February 22, 2024
Tommy Townsend is a free agent who last summer signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus. Biggest indication yet the Chiefs don’t expect Townsend to re-sign in KC. https://t.co/fsVQHmUrIW
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) February 22, 2024
Chiefs are preparing to lose Tommy Townsend, maybe. Townsend will soon be a free agent https://t.co/db7REAhHlO
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) February 22, 2024
The Chiefs aren’t taking the potential PR hit for this if Tommy is still in their plans. https://t.co/iUk2XawbfA
— Jared Sapp (@TrumanChief) February 22, 2024
Future comeback player of the year 😤 https://t.co/HbCUACX0CR
— Chiefs gonna 3-peat (@Prollyurdaddy) February 22, 2024
The punt god is back!!!!! https://t.co/H74yXreUeR pic.twitter.com/6a37aSoPI0
— bc rich mockingbird collector (@shack_diesel) February 22, 2024
I mean the Punter position was technically open. https://t.co/KsuvSHRM5v
— Matt Lane (@Matty_KCSN) February 22, 2024
Well that’s a surprising move but Townsend wasn’t likely to be back… https://t.co/SxRAd4SX1D
— Chris (@ChrisClarkNFL) February 22, 2024
Tommy Townsend is a free agent… interesting to see how this goes.
Meanwhile, KC signs the 'Punt God' https://t.co/MhfIaVFxgA
— The Reid Option (@ReidOptionKC) February 22, 2024
Tommy Townsend starting to get expensive for a punter in KC. https://t.co/cxL8Jj0IU1
— Alex Gold (@AlexGold) February 22, 2024
It was only a matter of time before someone gave Matt Araiza another chance.
I’m sure he’ll be an All-Pro next season because the Chiefs signed him. 😂 https://t.co/RM6kxnUZ9F
— Outside DiBirds (@OutsideDiBirds) February 22, 2024
The Chiefs were always the team to do this https://t.co/DbBGAQtWUS
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) February 22, 2024
PUNT GOD. pic.twitter.com/5iGeOtWH4K https://t.co/heqpgSMWJu
— 𝘙𝘑 (@RJLockedIn) February 22, 2024
Brett Veach man 😂😂 great singing IMO.
Arazia is talented, but those allegations set his career back. Idk how that cade went but if it's all behind him, I like this singing a lot.
I thought he was the best punter in that 2022 class. https://t.co/6wyMVUCJPv
— Robert 💔💔 (@RobertRaymond46) February 22, 2024
Seems like the Tommy Townsend era is over. https://t.co/mpUJZdluQI
— Dean Bryant (@dbryant_MU13) February 22, 2024
I thought we signed him for training camp competition, is he just flat out replacing Tommy T?! https://t.co/7WuHMiEjq0
— The Devistator (@Segurasbasement) February 22, 2024
Why? Are they not going to try to resign Tommy Townsend who just named all-pro in 2022? They instead want to go with a punter who hasn't attempted a regular season punt since December 21st, 2021 and never attempted one in the regular season…… https://t.co/xijNwUXVZb
— Jarrod Thurman (@jarrod_thurman) February 22, 2024
In a perfect Bills (and all other teams) world, the Chiefs need to utilize Araiza a lot this year. https://t.co/gyK9DxqCsL
— Greg Vorse (@GregVorse) February 22, 2024
Araiza has a rocket for a leg. Glad he’s getting another shot in the NFL.
Like always, Kansas City got a good football player. https://t.co/rn3OnyWZ0O
— Justin Ramos (@NEPinsider) February 22, 2024
Tommy Townsend has been the Chiefs punter and he is arguably the best in the league but is scheduled to become a Free Agent. https://t.co/zZXhcjX3N7
— Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) February 22, 2024
This’ll go over well with #BillsMafia lol https://t.co/WYDOBTvp5D
— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) February 22, 2024
It was gettin a little boring on here https://t.co/raUaoZujfe
— Robert Rimpson+ (@Rimpsanity) February 22, 2024
This is a choice. https://t.co/2NFGbvZyis
— Griot Chenal (@emceereach) February 22, 2024
Wow looks like Townsend time in KC may have come to an end. Ariza lawsuit was just dropped. Could be a huge pick up for the Chiefs as he was the best punter in his draft class. https://t.co/O4fWzjlfva
— Kingdom Connect (@ChiefsConnect) February 22, 2024
Never thought I'd see a rivalry intensify from a kicker signing…but here we are. #BillsMafia https://t.co/OGbwIpLvU0
— KenDawg Millionaire (@ferris516) February 22, 2024
Some how I KNEW this signing was coming especially with Tommy T hitting free agency. #Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom https://t.co/gGm9od3w1O
— Chiefs SD (@ChiefsSD) February 22, 2024
tommy townsend is a free agent too https://t.co/riKsF1aLkN
— ! (@RayTheGrouch) February 22, 2024
I’ll miss Tommy Townsend but I’m glad that this guy is getting another opportunity https://t.co/zPZsUfGxLp
— Steve W (@CowsinSpace87) February 22, 2024
Here for Buffalo fans comments https://t.co/sxXGsRgeab pic.twitter.com/NvKqFDDp4z
— marcus (@marcus_0206) February 22, 2024
Someone is gonna call into wgr about this and their head is gonna explode on live air https://t.co/ECBE7CtWsP
— dan granato (@j_ho92) February 22, 2024