Commanders release Brandon McManus after sexual assault complaint

The women claim the flight “quickly turned into a party” as McManus and other players violated airline safety regulations. According to the lawsuit, McManus “recruited” three other flight attendants and handed out $100 bills to encourage them to drink for him and “dance inappropriately.” The lawsuit claims those three employees no longer work for Atlas Air.

The NFL prohibits alcohol on team planes or buses, a rule it emphasized in a 2022 memo after then-Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke was photographed holding a beer during a postgame flight. The Florida court filing also alleges the women could smell marijuana coming from the plane’s bathrooms.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Monday that the league was aware of the lawsuit against McManus and had been in contact with the Commanders.

In a statement from a team spokesperson on Monday, the Commanders confirmed they were notified of the lawsuit that day. “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are investigating the matter,” the statement said. “We have communicated with the league office and Brandon’s representative and will refrain from commenting further at this time.” The Jaguars said they were aware of the complaint and “recognize the significance of the allegations.”

McManus’ attorney Brett R. Gallaway said in a statement Monday that the allegations were “completely fabricated and demonstrably false” and were made “as part of a campaign to defame and smear” McManus. “We intend to vigorously defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these allegations really are – an extortion attempt,” Gallaway added.

According to court documents, Jane Doe I accused McManus of attempting to kiss her while she was strapped into the jump seat during turbulence on the flight. The woman allegedly raised her hand to fend off McManus’ unwanted advances.

The lawsuit also alleges that McManus twice grabbed Jane Doe I and rubbed against her while she was serving in-flight meals. She claimed that during that first assault, she made eye contact with another Jaguars player who appeared embarrassed by his teammate’s behavior. The second assault occurred under similar circumstances, the lawsuit says: Jane Doe I was serving the second in-flight meal, and McManus again grabbed her by the waist and “rubbed his clothed but erect penis against her on numerous occasions.”

Jane Doe II claimed McManus behaved similarly during the second inflight service. The lawsuit alleges he rubbed up against Jane Doe II and she was unable to push him away because she was holding a tray in the aisle. When Jane Doe II turned around and confronted McManus, he “grinned and walked away,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also states that Jane Doe II stayed on the second level of the plane to avoid McManus during the team’s return flight on Oct. 8. The lawsuit alleges the women suffered “pain and suffering, as well as mental and emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation.”

The Jaguars were also named as defendants, accused of negligence for failing to properly hire McManus, failing to advise him of inappropriate sexual contact, failing to monitor his behavior during the flight, failing to develop and implement a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior and failing to create a safe environment for airline personnel. The women are seeking more than $1 million in damages and a jury trial. McManus and the Jaguars have until June 17 to respond to the lawsuit.

McManus signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars in May 2023 after spending the previous nine seasons with the Denver Broncos, helping them win Super Bowl 50 in the 2015 season. Commanders general manager Adam Peters was Denver’s assistant director of college scouting at the time.

McManus signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Commanders in March to replace Joey Slye, who briefly served as McManus’ successor in Jacksonville before being fired and signing with the New England Patriots. By releasing McManus, the Commanders will save $1.5 million in dead money under the salary cap.

For over six years, Washington relied on Dustin Hopkins as its kicker, but a series of failures led to his departure at the start of the 2021 season and a carousel of replacements. This season saw a failed experiment with Chris Blewitt (three missed field goals in two games), a stint with Brian Johnson while Slye recovered from injury, and then two mostly decent years with Slye before McManus’ arrival.

Washington now begins searching for its fifth kicker in four years, with few proven options available at this point in the offseason.