The Washington Commanders released kicker Brandon McManus on Sunday after he was accused by two women of sexually assaulting them on a flight last season. The incident occurred when McManus was with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The two women, identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, allege in a lawsuit filed in Duval County (Fla.) Circuit Civil Court that McManus rubbed against them during the Jaguars’ charter flight to London on Sept. 28. Both women worked as flight attendants for Atlas Air, according to the complaint. The Jaguars were traveling to London to play games against the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills.
The lawsuit claims that the flight turned into a party where McManus and other players violated air travel safety regulations. McManus allegedly recruited three other flight attendants and handed out $100 bills to encourage them to drink and dance inappropriately.
In response to the Commanders’ decision to release McManus, his attorney Brett R. Gallaway issued a statement denying the allegations. Gallaway stated that the accusations against McManus are false and contradicted by evidence and the accusers’ statements. He expressed disappointment in the team’s decision but vowed to defend McManus’s name through the legal process.
The NFL confirmed that it was aware of the situation and in contact with the Commanders after news of the lawsuit emerged. The Jaguars also responded, acknowledging the significance of the claims made in the lawsuit.
The court filing details instances where McManus allegedly made unwanted advances towards the flight attendants during the flight, causing emotional distress to both women. They are seeking damages in excess of $1 million and a jury trial. The lawsuit also accuses the Jaguars of negligence for failing to supervise McManus properly.
Attorney Tony Buzbee, representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, alleged that McManus brought alcohol onto the team plane, which is prohibited by the NFL. The filing also mentions the presence of marijuana on the airplane.
McManus had signed with the Jaguars in 2023 after nine seasons with the Denver Broncos before joining the Commanders in March on a one-year contract. By releasing McManus, the team may incur a financial penalty depending on the terms of his contract.
Washington will now have to find a new kicker following McManus’s release, with limited options available at this point in the offseason.
