After signing kicker Brandon McManus, Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst assured reporters that the team was “very, very comfortable” with the decision, despite the s*xual assault allegations against McManus. The allegations, made by two flight attendants, surfaced in September 2023 and led to McManus being cut by the Washington Commanders, where he had signed as a free agent.
The NFL conducted an extensive investigation, interviewing over 30 people, and concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to prove McManus violated the league’s personal conduct policy. On September 30, the league announced the case was closed, with no disciplinary action to be taken against McManus.
“Last week when these things got cleared up within the league and he got past some other things, those conversations kinda picked up,” Gutekunst told reporters, as reported by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “We wanted to make sure we did our due diligence. Again, we feel really good about that where we sit right now and we’re excited to get him out there.”
The allegations stemmed from an incident involving McManus and the two flight attendants during a flight from London with the Jacksonville Jaguars. McManus was accused of being drunk, attempting to kiss one of the attendants, and making inappropriate physical contact with both. The plaintiffs sought $1 million in damages and a jury trial. While McManus has maintained that the lawsuit has been “resolved,” court records indicate that depositions with the plaintiffs are still pending, according to ESPN.
Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia seemed to focus solely on McManus’s football skills when discussing the signing. “What’s not to like?” Bisaccia asked, highlighting McManus’s long career and success in high-pressure situations, including Super Bowl appearances. “He’s been in a lot of pressure situations, he’s had kicks in the Super Bowl. He’s played in cold weather, he’s played in hot weather. So he’s had a lot of experiences kicking in a lot of different climates, a lot of different places. He’s been successful for a very long time, so we’re glad we got him right now.”
While Bisaccia’s comments might be interpreted as addressing McManus’s football prowess, some could find his remarks insensitive. In cases where athletes face serious allegations, such as s*xual misconduct, there is often criticism of organizations prioritizing talent over character. As Gutekunst acknowledged, McManus’s availability was a direct result of the accusations against him, leading to some questioning whether the Packers are valuing performance over accountability.
Nonetheless, McManus replaces rookie kicker Brayden Narveson, who made 12 of his 17 kicks this season before being released. McManus, who has made 81% of his field-goal attempts over a decade-long career, brings significant experience to the Packers as they prepare for the upcoming season.