More than two months after signing with the Washington Commanders, former Super Bowl champion Brandon McManus finds himself facing a major lawsuit.
According to NBC News, two women are suing McManus, accusing him of sexually assaulting them on a team flight to London last year when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Per the report, the two women worked as flight attendants for Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings and allege that McManus “rubbed himself on them and tried to kiss one of them while they worked a team-chartered flight from Florida to England on Sept. 28.”
“The sexual misconduct occurred in front of Plaintiffs’ professional peers and in front of high-profile clients. Plaintiffs felt severely anxious, ashamed, and terrified that their careers were at risk,” the complaint reads.
Filed in Duval County, Florida, the civil suit seeks more than $1 million in damages. A lawyer for McManus denied the accusations and said his client will fight to prove that the lawsuit is an “extortion attempt.”
“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’ lawyer, Brett R. Gallaway, said in a statement. “We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name.”
A member of the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2015, McManus signed as a free agent with the Commanders earlier this year. In a statement, the Commanders said they’re aware of the lawsuit, which was filed late last week.
[NBC News]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.