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Brandon McManus sexual assault allegations, explained: Why Commanders cut kicker before playing single game

In March 2024, kicker Brandon McManus signed a deal with the Washington Commanders in free agency; by that point, he already had a decade of experience in the NFL. He was set to become Washington's starting kicker.

However, just a few months later, the Commanders released McManus in the aftermath of sexual assault allegations that stemmed from the kicker's time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Later on, an NFL investigation concluded that there was not enough evidence that McManus violated the league's personal conduct policy.

That led to McManus signing a deal with the Green Bay Packers, where he later agreed to a three-year extension.

Here's what to know about the 2024 sexual assault allegations against McManus.

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Brandon McManus sexual assault allegations, explained

In May 2024, two women sued McManus and the Jaguars, alleging that McManus sexually assaulted them during the team's overseas flight to London in 2023.

According to ESPN, court documents showed that two women, identified as "Jane Doe I" and "Jane Doe II" in the lawsuit, accused McManus of "rubbing himself against them and grinding against them." They also accused the Jaguars of "failing to supervise McManus and failing to create a safe environment for staff serving the team."

The lawsuit was filed in Duval County Circuit Civil Court, and the women were seeking in excess of $1 million and demanding a jury trial. According to ESPN, the lawsuit stated that the two women worked as flight attendants on the Jaguars' flight on Sept. 28, 2023.

The women alleged that the flight "quickly turned into a party," with McManus and other players disregarding the attendants' personal space, air travel safety and law; McManus allegedly passed out $100 bills to attendants in an effort to encourage the women to drink and dance inappropriately for him.

One of the women accused McManus of trying to kiss her and twice grinding up against her while she was serving the flight's meal services, per the lawsuit. The other woman also alleged that McManus was grinding up against her while she was serving the flight's meal service, and when she confronted McManus, he "smirked and walked away."

The lawsuit stated that the Jaguars' charter flight was their first time working on the team's flight, and they had "experienced severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation" following the incident, including being taken off the crew for the NFL team's flights.

Additionally, the lawsuit stated that the Jaguars committed gross negligence by failing to "train him about inappropriate and sexual contact with flight staff" and "supervise him on the flight," per ESPN. Then-Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said at the time that he wouldn't have described the flight as a "party."

McManus' attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, released a statement on the lawsuit at the time.

"These are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and well-respected NFL player," Gallaway said in a statement, per ESPN. "We intend to aggressively defend Brandon's rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are -- an extortion attempt."

Attorney Tony Buzbee’s firm represented the women in the case. In a May 2024 statement, Buzbee said there had been an attempt to settle before the lawsuit was filed.

“Our efforts at resolution were met with arrogance, ignorance and stupidity — strikingly similar to how Deshaun Watson’s team responded when we tried to resolve those cases pre-filing,” Buzbee said, per ESPN. “The allegations in this lawsuit are very serious. We fully vetted them and spoke to witnesses before taking the cases. We will pursue this case with the same tenacity we are known for.”

The Jaguars also released a statement after the lawsuit, saying they were “aware of the complaint” and acknowledged “the significance of the claims,” adding that the organization was “built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class.”

Jacksonville chose not to re-sign McManus in the 2024 offseason after he spent one year with the team. On March 14, 2024, he agreed to a one-year deal with the Commanders in free agency.

“Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter,” the Commanders said in a statement, per ESPN. “We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation and will reserve further comment at this time.”

The NFL also conducted an investigation into the incident. McManus remained a free agent throughout training camp following his release from the Commanders.

In September 2024, the NFL concluded its investigation into the incident, saying there was insufficient evidence to support that McManus had violated the league's personal conduct policy. Also in September 2024, a judge dismissed the women's lawsuit, saying their case did not rise to the "exceptional" criteria required for anonymity. The women then proceeded to file an amended complaint that used their names, per the AP.

In October 2024, McManus said the lawsuit filed by the two women had been "resolved," which lawyers on both sides of the case confirmed. The terms were not disclosed. On Oct. 16, 2024, McManus had signed a deal with the Packers, stepping in as the team's kicker.

“It’s been a difficult time these last couple of months,” McManus said at the time, per NBC Sports. “I’m happy that it’s in the past now. I was hoping and working hard for another opportunity. I’m extremely grateful for the Green Bay Packers for giving me that next chance to come back out here and play the game I love.”

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the time that the team was “very, very comfortable” with the McManus situation, saying that the NFL "did a really thorough investigation," per NBC Sports.

McManus went on to convert 20 of his 21 field goal attempts for Green Bay in 2024, prompting the team to give him a three-year, $15.3 million extension in March 2025.

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Why did the Commanders release Brandon McManus?

The Commanders released McManus on June 2, 2024, in the wake of the lawsuit containing sexual assault allegations against the kicker.

Just months earlier, the team had signed him in free agency. McManus never appeared in a game for Washington; in October 2024, he then signed a deal with the Packers.

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Did NFL discipline Brandon McManus?

The NFL's investigation into the sexual assault allegations against McManus found that there was insufficient evidence that he violated the league's personal conduct policy. Per ESPN, the investigation included interviews with 30 people, resulting in no discipline for McManus.

"There was insufficient evidence to support a finding that a violation of the personal conduct policy occurred. As always, if new evidence is presented it would be taken into consideration," league spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in a statement, according to ESPN.

Buzbee, who represented the women who filed the lawsuit, said the NFL had not yet spoken with the women about their allegations as part of the investigation.

"We are still working to schedule a meeting between the NFL's investigators and our clients," Buzbee said in a statement to ESPN. "The NFL hasn't yet spoken with our clients so I'm a bit confused as to why anyone could conclude that at this point."

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Brandon McManus career timeline

2009-12: Temple

McManus, who was born in Philadelphia, attended Temple from 2009-12. He holds the program's career records for points scored (338), field goals made (60), field goals attempted (83), and punting average (45.3).

As a senior in 2012, McManus earned All-Big East first-team honors after connecting on 14-of-17 field goals and 32-of-33 extra points.

2013: Signs with Colts as UDFA

McManus entered the 2013 NFL Draft, but was not drafted. However, he did sign with the Indianapolis Colts in the time immediately following the draft.

He was then waived prior to the start of the 2013 season.

2014: Joins Giants

In January 2014, McManus signed with the New York Giants on a reserve/futures contract.

The kicker wound up appearing in four preseason games for New York before a trade sent him to Denver.

2014-22: Becomes Broncos' starting kicker, wins Super Bowl

On Aug. 26, 2014, McManus was traded from the Giants to the Denver Broncos, who had lost their kicker, Matt Prater, to a suspension.

McManus became the Broncos' starting kicker after Prater was released in October 2014. The following month, Denver waived McManus, but he then quickly re-signed with the team and served as a kickoff specialist.

In 2015, McManus and Connor Barth competed for the Broncos' starting kicker job. McManus won that job, and on Sept. 13, 2015, he became the third kicker in NFL history to make multiple field goals of 56-plus yards in the same game. McManus was also named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October 2015 after making a game-winning field goal.

In the divisional round of the 2015 playoffs, McManus tied an NFL playoff record by making five field goals against the Steelers. He then won a championship with the Broncos, who got three field goals from McManus in Super Bowl 50.

McManus remained the Broncos' starting kicker moving forward as one of the steadiest kickers in the league. He signed a three-year extension with the squad in 2017. As his success continued, he then signed a four-year, $17.2 million extension with the Broncos in 2020. He earned multiple AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

In May 2023, McManus was released by the Broncos, designated as a post-June 1 cut. He was released as the final active member of the team's Super Bowl 50 roster.

2023: Signs with Jaguars in free agency

McManus signed a one-year deal with Jacksonville in May 2023. During the following season, he earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October.

2024: Signs with Commanders, then released

Upon his Jaguars deal ending, McManus changed teams in free agency again in March 2024. He signed a one-year deal with the Commanders.

However, Washington then released McManus in June 2024 following public sexual assault allegations stemming from his time with the Jaguars.

2024-25: Signs with Packers, signs extension

In October 2024, the Packers signed McManus to a deal to help aid their kicking issues. By that point, his legal troubles had met an undisclosed conclusion, while the NFL's investigation into the sexual assault allegations against McManus found that there was not enough evidence to discipline him.

McManus kicked a game-winning field goal in his first game with the Packers, a 24-22 win over Houston. After converting on 20-of-21 field goals for Green Bay in 2024, McManus agreed to a new three-year, $15.3 million contract with the Packers.