Matt Araiza is in position to become the starting punter for the Kansas City Chiefs. The former San Diego State star, best known as ‘Punt God,’ has signed with the Super Bowl champions after a tumultuous journey to the National Football League.
His agency confirmed the news on Thursday.
The 23-year-old, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Bills, was cut by Buffalo one day after the final preseason game of his rookie season. It was a decision that came two days after a lawsuit accusing him and two former SDSU teammates of rape became public.
Araiza was named a defendant in a civil case stemming from an alleged gang rape of an underage girl at an off-campus party in 2021. His lawyer described the allegations as a “money grab” at the time.
Despite the discrepancy between Araiza’s story and the allegations, the Bills chose to let him walk prior to the 2022 NFL season. They did so after previously naming him as their starting punter.
He did not get another job and remained unemployed while fighting the charges. He was ultimately cleared by prosecutors. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office determined “it is clear the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges and there is no path to a potential criminal conviction.”
In response to the exoneration, Araiza filed a defamation lawsuit in late July. Both he and the accuser mutually agreed to drop their respective lawsuits without any admission of wrongdoing back in December, which put him one step closer toward a return to the league.
However, the punter remained without a job through the entire 2023/24 season.
Matt Araiza is back.
Now, less than one full month after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, they have signed the Punt God. Araiza joins the team with a real opportunity to earn the starting job.
Incumbent punter Tommy Townsend is set to become a free agent in March. Perhaps Kansas City is getting ahead of his departure. Perhaps it plans to retain both punters and have them compete during training camp.
Either way, Matt Araiza has a path to punting for the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champions after taking his last snap in the league in August of 2022. If his leg is still as great of a weapon as it once was, he will provide a serious boost to a team that is loaded with talent.
Townsend is an All-Pro punter. Araiza might be even better.