Last year, former San Diego State star punter Matt Araiza, who earned the nickname “Punt God” for his big kicks, was hit with shocking rape allegations. Even though he was never charged and his family proclaimed his innocence, he was released by the Bills within days of the allegations and never found another NFL team. But now it looks like he’ll try to revive his football career in a different country.
On Thursday afternoon, Galgos de Tijuana (Tijuana Greyhounds) of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA) announced that they had signed Matt Araiza to their 2023 football roster.
¡Bienvenido Matt Araiza!☄️
El pateador y punter formado en San Diego State University llega a Galgos para la temporada 2023#VamosGalgos❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/dRPT0cF1E9— Galgos de Tijuana (@Galgos_LFA) February 16, 2023
Araiza’s accuser said that he had sex with her before bringing her into a bedroom where a group of men took turns raping her as she was “in and out of consciousness and her ear, belly and nose piercings were ripped out as men assaulted her for about 90 minutes.”
Some claimed that Araiza’s accuser was making the accusations against him for financial gain, but she denied that, saying “I reported it the day after it happened. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was.”
It’s certainly a controversial move by Tijuana, and the football world had plenty to say about it.
https://twitter.com/YoKiryuChan/status/1626327290086068224?s=20
Former #Bills P Matt Araiza has signed a deal with the Tijuana @Galgos_LFA of the @LFAmex in Mexico.
After a visit to camp this past Tuesday, the team decided to give the “Punt God” a chance.
— Julian Gro. Jr (@JulianBolt55) February 16, 2023
How tf this guy not in jail? https://t.co/M3y2j1YmfR
— Trevor Addeo (@AddeoTrevor) February 17, 2023
Very interesting. Wonder if he'll ever get another shot in the NFL
— We Dem Tecs (@WeDemTecs) February 15, 2023
Former Bills kicker Matt Araiza will be playing football in Tijuana where any kind of moral responsibility need not be required. He'll be with Gaigos de Tijuana a pro team in The Liga de Futbol. Congrats scumbag. pic.twitter.com/vQg3i633Pf
— Victor K UCONN HUSKIES (25-8) vs IONA (27-7) (@VictorKreitner) February 18, 2023
Prosecutors dropped the charges against Araiza in December, saying “prosecutors can only file charges when they ethically believe they can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
