Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza has officially signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, as announced by his agency JL Sports on Thursday. This move comes after Araiza was not charged in a gang rape case from 2021, and a civil suit against him was dropped in December.

The Chiefs organization, including Brett Veach and coach Reid, was commended by the agency for giving Araiza this opportunity. Araiza's agency expressed pride in him for handling the challenging situation with grace and humility. With the contract signed, Araiza can now move forward with his NFL career with the Chiefs.

Araiza, who was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2022 draft from San Diego State, was released by the team in August following allegations of sexual assault involving a minor and two former teammates. The Bills faced public scrutiny over the handling of the situation, as it was revealed that the San Diego Police had investigated the case for almost 10 months before deciding not to recommend prosecution.

In his statement, Araiza expressed his pride and excitement in joining the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs, for the next phase of his career. Known as "Punt God" for his impressive college performance, Araiza set an NCAA record with a 51.19-yard punting average in his senior season. A standout moment for Araiza was an 82-yard punt during the preseason with the Bills, solidifying his position as the starting punter.

The Chiefs' decision to sign Araiza may have been influenced by the impending free agency of veteran punter Tommy Townsend. Prior to joining the Chiefs, Araiza had a workout with the New York Jets last May. Now, he looks forward to making his mark with the Chiefs and continuing his promising NFL career.