Jacksonville Jaguars place kicker Brandon McManus (10) during the first half of an NFL preseason game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan, on August 19, 2023. (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn revealed that the team was unaware of the sexual assault allegations against kicker Brandon McManus when they signed him in free agency. The Commanders only learned about the allegations last week.
Lawsuit Details
Washington released McManus on Sunday night, seven days after discovering the lawsuit filed by two women who claimed McManus sexually assaulted them during a flight to London last season while he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The women were working as flight attendants.
On March 14, the Commanders signed McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million deal. The plaintiff filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million in damages on May 24 in Duval County Circuit Civil Court, according to a report from ESPN.
Immediate Release and Investigation
Quinn said he first learned of the allegations on May 27 and declined to comment further as the situation is “under investigation.” He stressed the importance of players communicating issues the team needs to be aware of, saying, “that kind of communication allows you to come up with some solutions,” although he clarified that this comment was not specific to McManus’ case.
McManus’ attorney, Brett R. Galloway, has maintained his client’s innocence.
When asked if the organization’s history influenced McManus’ release, Quinn responded, “There’s nothing we can comment on. There’s an investigation that’s ongoing.”
Historical Context
In July 2021, the NFL fined the Commanders $10 million after an investigation found evidence of a toxic workplace culture, including sexual harassment allegations, under former owner Dan Snyder. Snyder’s former employee accused him of sexual misconduct, leading to a $60 million fine from the league after a 17-month inquiry conducted by attorney Mary Jo White. Her findings confirmed that Snyder had sexually harassed former employee Tiffani Johnston and that the Commanders had hidden revenue that was supposed to be shared with other teams.
A group led by Josh Harris purchased the team from Snyder in July 2023.
