Matt Araiza officially makes Chiefs roster after rape lawsuit upended time with Bills

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Matt Araiza will start as the Kansas City Chiefs’ punter this season, two years after the Buffalo Bills cut him amid allegations of rape in a lawsuit. 

The rape lawsuit was dropped, and Araiza signed with the Chiefs in February. He battled in camp with Ryan Rhekow for the starting punter job, and by the end of the preseason, he was the team’s full-time punter.

Araiza officially made the cut as the Chiefs trimmed down their roster to 53 men on Tuesday.

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Kansas City Chiefs punter Matt Araiza, #49, on the sidelines against the Detroit Lions during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Aug. 17, 2024. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)

Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub explained last month why Araiza was set to become the starting punter.

"Both of those guys did a great job. Ryan Rehkow did a great job, the kid from BYU we had. It was a tough decision," Toub said, via Chiefs Wire. "It wasn’t really cut and dry, but in the end, Matt was a little more consistent day to day. Being a lefty punter, a little bit older, I think we made that choice to go with it. I didn’t want to go into this camp with two guys."

Toub suggested that Araiza may provide a different look for punt returners given that he is a left.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also spoke briefly about Araiza on Aug. 5.

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Kansas City Chiefs punter Matt Araiza, #49, walks from the locker room to the field prior to training camp at Missouri Western State University in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 26, 2024. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY