Brandon McManus will not be disciplined by the NFL after allegations that he sexually assaulted two women on a flight to London with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year.
It was reported in May that the women were demanding $1million in damages and a jury trial.
They alleged McManus, 32, rubbed himself against them and grinded against them, and also claim that Jacksonville failed to supervise their player or create a safe environment for staff serving the team. The incident was alleged to have happened in September 2023.
The NFL opened an investigation but it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that he broke the league’s personal conduct policy. NFL reporter Adam Schefter first revealed the findings on Monday.
As a result, McManus is now free to sign with a team and continue with his career. He was released by the Washington Commanders just three months after signing a one-year, $3.6million deal due to the allegations.
Brandon McManus will not be disciplined by the NFL after sexual assault allegations
It has been reported that McManus may now make a prompt return to the NFL
McManus, through his lawyers, strenuously denied the allegations back in May.
‘To be clear, 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,’ McManus’ legal team Brett R. Gallaway, Partner, McLaughlin & Stern said in a statement.
‘We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are – an extortion attempt.’
The Jags played two games in London in the 2023 season, against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley on October 1, and then against the Buffalo Bills at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8. McManus played in both.
According to Schefter, McManus could now be in line for a swift return to the NFL.
According to the lawsuit, the Jaguars flew to the UK on an Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight on September 28, 2023, and the two women were working as flight attendants for the team.
They allege the journey ‘quickly turned into a party’ and that McManus and several other players ‘disregarded the flight attendants’ personal space, air travel safety, and federal law’.
McManus pictured playing in London for the Jaguars – days after the alleged incident
One of the women – identified only as Jane Doe I – accuses McManus of trying to kiss her while she was seated during a period of turbulence and twice grinding up against her while she was serving meals to passengers.
The second woman – Jane Doe II – claims that McManus grinded against her while she was serving the second of the flight’s two meals, before confronting him – only for him to ‘smirk and walk away’.
Last season, the NFL star earned $2m in his one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, following his release by the Denver Broncos.
He made 30 of his 37 field-goal attempts in 2023, and all 35 of his extra-point attempts.