Two women have filed a lawsuit against former Jacksonville Jaguars place kicker Brandon McManus alleging that he sexually assaulted them on the team’s flight overseas to London for a game in 2023, according to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco.
The women, whose names were not made public, filed the lawsuit in Duval County Circuit Civil Court on Friday night. They are suing for more than $1 million in damages.
The women were working as flight attendants on the Jaguars’ charter flight to London in September of last year ahead of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium. The flight, the women alleged, “quickly turned into a party.”
McManus, along with other players was not cognoscente and disregarded the attendants’ personal space, air travel safety and federal laws, according to the report, and McManus allegedly invited other flight attendants to join in at the party and made it rain, passing out $100 bills to try to entice them to drink and dance for him.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe first woman, per the lawsuit, said McManus attempted to kiss her while she was seated during turbulence on the flight. He also allegedly grinded up against her twice while she was serving food and drinks to the passengers. The second woman said McManus also grinded up against her during one of the flight’s meal services. She said she confronted McManus about it, but he “smirked and walked away.” The second woman said she remained in the plane’s second level to avoid any run ins with him on the team’s return flight to Jacksonville after the game.
The two women also included the Jaguar organization as a whole, in their lawsuit for allegedly failing to supervise McManus and failing to create a safe working environment for staff on the plane. The charter flight was the first the two women had worked for the team, per the report, and they said they have experienced “severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation.”
McManus emphatically denied the allegations levied against him in a statement through his attorney on Monday night.
“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 by showing what these claims truly are – an extortion attempt.”
McManus came into the league with the Denver Broncos, where he spent the first nine years of his career. He is known for his golden leg and went 30-of-37 on field goals and made all of his extra points with the Jaguars last season. Jacksonville chose to move in a different direction and did not sign McManus again this offseason, but he has since signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Washington Commanders.
“Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus,” the Commanders said in a statement. “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into 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 released a similar statement on Monday night, also.
“We’re aware of the complaint, and we acknowledge the significant of the claims,” the team said in a statement. “As we continue to look into the matter, it bears emphasizing that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class.”
