A lawsuit alleging former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza of rape in October 2021 has been dismissed after an agreement was reached with the accuser.
A suit was filed in August 2022 and led to the Bills releasing Araiza amid a storm of backlash. At the 2022 NFL draft, Buffalo selected the punter in the sixth round and awarded him the starting job in training camp only for him to be released a short time later.
According to ESPN who obtained the settlement, the accuser has agreed to drop the suit and Araiza has agreed to drop his countersuit claiming defamation. No money will be exchanged. Araiza has maintained the ability to sue the plaintiff’s attorney, Dan Gilleon, and his law office, and he has retained counsel to do so.
Others named in the lawsuit along with Araiza were not part of the settlement that was reached.
“Matt has always maintained his innocence, despite the public outcry that resulted when he was falsely accused of crimes and civil assault. Thankfully, there was extensive evidence that was key to securing Matt’s voluntary dismissal from this lawsuit,” Araiza’s attorneys said in a statement.
Since his release from the Bills, Araiza has only had one connection to a team. The New York Jets had brought him in for a workout in May 2023 but he did not sign.
Araiza reportedly is hopeful for another opportunity in the NFL.
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