Matt Araiza Dropped from Rape Lawsuit, Plans NFL Return

The former Buffalo Bills punter was cleared of charges and intends to return to the NFL, while the lawsuit against four other former San Diego State University players continues.

Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza has been dropped from a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleged she was raped by San Diego State University football players in 2021. The woman agreed to dismiss Araiza from the lawsuit she filed last year, while Araiza agreed to dismiss his defamation countersuit against her.
The woman's lawsuit against four other former San Diego State University players will continue. Araiza reserves the right to sue her attorney for harm caused.
Araiza was accused of participating in a 2021 gang rape at an off-campus party, with prosecutors concluding last year the evidence didn’t support them filing criminal charges against him.
Araiza was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft but was released two days after the filing of the lawsuit. Araiza intends to return to the NFL, his lawyers said.
After a monthlong police investigation, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office announced in December that it would not file criminal charges.