Brandon McManus’ legal team has vehemently denied allegations that the NFL star sexually assaulted two women during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Two women are suing the Jaguars and their former kicker after alleging he sexually assaulted them on a team flight to London last year.
ESPN reports that the women, who have not been identified, are seeking more than $1 million and are demanding a jury trial. They allege that McManus, 32, rubbed against and grinded on them, and they also claim that Jacksonville failed to supervise its player or create a safe environment for staff providing services to the team.
However, in a furious statement on Monday, the Washington Commanders player’s attorneys called the allegations “fictitious” and “false,” while claiming they are simply an “extortion attempt” against their client.
“To be clear, these are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and respected NFL player,” said McManus’ legal team, Brett R. Gallaway, a partner at McLaughlin & Stern, in a statement.
Brandon McManus’ legal team has vehemently denied allegations that the NFL star sexually assaulted two women during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Two women are suing the Jaguars and their former kicker after alleging he sexually assaulted them on a team flight to London last year (pictured: Jaguars players boarding the flight).
“We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims really 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 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8. McManus played in both.
The kicker was not re-signed by the team at the end of last season and has since signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Washington Commanders.
In a statement Monday, a Commanders spokesperson said: “Earlier today, we learned of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are investigating the matter.
“We have been in communication with the league office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.”
The Jaguars initially declined to comment when approached by the media, before saying in a statement of their own: “We are aware of the complaint and recognize the significance of the claims.”
“As we continue to investigate the matter, it is worth emphasizing that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class.”
According to the lawsuit, the Jaguars flew to the United Kingdom on an Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight on Sept. 28, 2023, and the two women worked as flight attendants for the team.
They allege that the trip “quickly turned into a party” and that McManus and several other players “disregarded the flight attendants’ personal space, air travel safety and federal law.”
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 rubbing her twice while serving food to passengers.
The second woman, Jane Doe II, claims McManus punched her while serving the second of two in-flight meals, before confronting him, only for him to “smile and walk away.”
McManus is pictured playing for the Jags in London, days after the alleged assault occurred.
Doe I also claims that during the first alleged assault, he made eye contact with another Jaguars player, who “seemed embarrassed by McManus’ behavior.”
Doe II also alleges that when the team returned to the United States from London after the doubleheader, she “remained on the second floor of the plane to avoid McManus.”
The lawsuit says the two women have experienced severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation.
Last season, the NFL star earned $2 million 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.