DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — Former Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus is being accused of sexual assault while on a flight from Jacksonville to London in 2023. The Jacksonville Jaguars are also named in the lawsuit.
Two women are suing McManus and the Jaguars, alleging that McManus sexually assaulted them on Sept. 28, 2023, during the Jaguars' Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight, according to court documents.
In the lawsuit, the women are referred to as "Jane Doe I" and "Jane Doe II" and were both working as flight attendants on the Jaguars charter flight when they said the flight "quickly turned into a party," alleging McManus and a number of teammates disregarded their personal space.
The lawsuit, which was filed Friday night in Duval County Circuit Civil Court, accuses McManus of rubbing himself against them and grinding against them.
The documents state McManus recruited three other flight attendants to party and passed out $100 bills to encourage the women to drink and dance inappropriately for him.
Jane Doe I accuses McManus of trying to kiss her and grind up against her while she tried to serve meals on the flight. Jane Doe II said McManus did something similar to her, adding he tried to kiss her and grind on her while she tried handing out meals.
"When Jane Doe II turned around and confronted Defendant McManus, he simply smirked and walked away," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit adds the sexual misconduct happened in front of McManus' "professional peers" and "high-profile clients."
The lawsuit accuses the Jaguars displayed gross negligence by not adequately hiring McManus, failing to train him about inappropriate and sexual contact with flight staff, neglecting to supervise him during the flight, lacking policies and procedures to protect flight staff from sexual misconduct by employees and not enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on inappropriate behavior.
The plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 million against the defendants for the "reprehensible conduct."
The Jaguars picked up McManus in 2023 from the Denver Broncos but did not resign him for the 2024 season. He was signed by the Washington Commanders where he obtained a one-year, $3.6 million contract.
The Washington Commanders issued the following statement to NBC Sports:
"We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communications with the League's Office and Brandon's representation and will reserve further comment at this time."
Around 8 p.m., the Jaguars released the following statement:
"We’re aware of the complaint, and we acknowledge the significance of the claims. 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."
First Coast News reached out to McManus' agent as well.