Commanders fire Brandon McManus after sexual assault complaint

The Washington Commanders have released kicker Brandon McManus, days after a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him in connection with an incident from his time as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars became public, the team announced Sunday.

Washington signed McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million contract in the offseason and decided against extending Joey Slye. On Monday, the day ESPN reported on the lawsuit, a Commanders spokesman said the team was aware of the situation and was in contact with the NFL and McManus’s representative.

“We take allegations of this nature very seriously,” the commanders said in a statement.

Under former owner Dan Snyder, Washington was the subject of multiple investigations into a toxic work culture, including allegations of sexual harassment. The NFL ultimately fined the organization $10 million. Snyder was accused of sexual misconduct by a former team employee. After a 17-month investigation by attorney Mary Jo White, Snyder was fined $60 million. Her findings substantiated allegations that the Commanders were hiding revenue that was supposed to be paid to other teams. White also substantiated allegations that Snyder sexually harassed former employee Tiffani Johnston.

Snyder sold the team to a group led by Josh Harris in July 2023.

In the lawsuit filed against McManus and the Jaguars, two women allege he sexually harassed them during Jacksonville’s overseas flight to London last year, according to court documents obtained by ESPN.

McManus issued a statement Sunday evening through his attorney Brett R. Gallaway in which he first “thanked the Washington Commanders for the opportunity to be part of the organization.”

“However, we reiterate that the allegations against Brandon are and remain absolutely false and, importantly, are refuted by incontrovertible evidence and the accusers’ previous contradictory statements and omissions. While we are disappointed in the team’s decision to release Brandon before he had the opportunity to defend himself against these fabricated allegations, we will vigorously defend and clear Brandon’s name and reputation through the legal process. We intend to rebut these allegations, fully exonerate him and look forward to seeing him back on the field where he belongs.”

The women – identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in the lawsuit filed May 24 in Duval County Circuit Court Civil Court – accuse McManus of rubbing and grinding against them. They also accuse the Jaguars of failing to supervise McManus and create a safe environment for the personnel who cover the team.

The lawsuit says the September flight was the first Jaguars charter flight the two women had worked on and they experienced severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation. They were removed from the core crew of the Jaguars charter flights, something they worked hard for, the lawsuit says.

They are demanding more than a million dollars and a jury trial. In a statement last week, Gallaway called the demands “completely fabricated” and “proven false allegations.” Gallaway also called the case an “extortion attempt.”

Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the two women, said on Instagram: “Prior to filing the lawsuit, we attempted unsuccessfully to resolve this matter without going to trial. Our efforts to resolve it were met with arrogance, ignorance and stupidity, strikingly similar to the response from Deshaun Watson’s team when we attempted to resolve these cases prior to filing. The allegations made in this lawsuit are very serious. We made sure we thoroughly reviewed them and spoke to witnesses before even accepting the cases. We will pursue this case with the same tenacity we are known for. It’s a shame this type of behavior still occurs. It happens far too often. These women were simply trying to do their jobs!”

In his first 10 seasons – nine of them with Denver – McManus converted 81.4% of his field goal attempts and 97.2% of his extra points. In 2023 with Jacksonville, he converted 30 of 37 field goals and all 35 of his extra point attempts.

ESPN Editor in Chief Adam Schefter and ESPN Writer Michael DiRocco contributed to this report.