Matt Araiza is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. The athlete made his NFL debut in 2022 with the Buffalo Bills. However, he was released before the 2022 season after being accused of sexual assault.
Matt Araiza is a former teammate of Damar Hamlin, a talented and hardworking athlete who is currently fighting for his life after he collapsed during the Buffalo Bills match on January 2, 2023.
Matt was nicknamed “Punt God” for his strength to punt the football 70–80 yards. To be named “Punt God” at age 25 is a great achievement.
Everything was taking off generously for Matt, but after the alleged sexual assault of a minor, the athlete is receiving a lot of hate comments. On December 2022, the DA office decided not to initiate a criminal proceeding due to a lack of conclusive evidence.
After the news of the alleged sexual assault, people are questioning his upbringing and family pedagogy. His parents are currently away from the media attention and all the tangle around Matt.
Uncover informational details about the young and competitive football player Matt Araiza in this article.
First, have a quick look at some facts about the player.
Matt Araiza | Quick Facts
| Full Name | Matthew Ryan Araiza |
| Date of Birth | May 16, 2000 |
| Birth Place | San Diego, California |
| Nick Name | None |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mexican |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Age | 25 Years Old |
| Height | 6 ft. 1 in. (1.85 m/ 185 cm) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Rico Araiza |
| Mother’s Name | Kerry Araiza |
| Siblings | Ricky Araiza |
| Education |
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| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | Unknown |
| Kids | None |
| Profession | Football Player |
| Position | Punter |
| Former Team | Buffalo Bills |
| NFL Draft | 2022 / Round: 6 / Pick: 180 |
| Net Worth | $1- $5 Million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Merch | Buffalo Bills Helmet |
| Last Update | May, 2025 |
Matt Araiza | Body Measurements
Matt Araiza | Early Life & Family
Matthew Ryan Araiza, popular as Matt Araiza, was born in San Diego, California, on May 16, 2000, to his father, Rico Araiza, and his mother, Kerry Araiza. He has an older brother named Ricky.
Araiza has mixed ancestry since his father is of Mexican origin and his mother is of Caucasian origin. His parents are very supportive and have always motivated him in every activity throughout his boyhood.
To introduce Araiza to athletics, his father used to take him to the field 4-5 days a week. His older brother also encouraged him to take on a football career.
Matt Araiza | Football Career
Araiza attended Rancho Bernardo High School, where he was a hurdler in the track and field game. In the meantime, he was also into football.
He earned 37 field goals and became a placekicker and two-time All-America selection.
After a successful high school year, Araiza attended San Diego State University. He was redshirted his freshman season while serving as the backup to All-Mountain West Conference (MW) kicker John Baron II.
Later, he made 10 of 14 field goal attempts in the 2020 season and earned an honorable mention of All-Mountain West for a second consecutive season.
Likewise, in 2021, Araiza was labeled the Aztec’s first-string punter and a mid-season All-American by ESPN at the position.
He wrapped up the season averaging 51.19 yards per unit and broke the NCAA record set by Texas A&M’s Braden Mann in 2018. In addition, he earned the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in the country.
Araiza declared that he’d forgo his final season of eligibility to enter the 2022 NFL Draft.
He was selected in the sixth round, 180th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft by Buffalo Bills.
Moreover, he was named the Bills’ starting punter as a rookie. But, the Bills released Araiza from the team two days after the lawsuit was filed against him.
Awards & Achievements
- Ray Guy Award (2021)
- Unanimous All-American (2021)
- First-team All-MWC (2021)
- MWC Special Teams Player of the Year (2021)
Matt Araiza | Personal Life & Girlfriend
The young athlete is currently single. He has not disclosed anything about his ladylove anywhere.
The player might be more focused on his career than being in a relationship. Or, he might be in a secret relationship and keep everything behind the curtain.
We’ll update you if we find any information about his love life.
Sexual Allegation
Ariza, along with his college teammates, Nowlin Ewaliko and Zavier Leonard, were alleged to be committing rape, false imprisonment, and gender-violence crimes at a Halloween party on October 17, 2021.
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit in August 2022 in California. After the investigation, the District Attorney’s Office announced in December 2022 that Ariza would not be criminally charged because of a lack of enough evidence to support a conviction.
Matt Araiza | Net Worth & Social Media
The young player, Matt Araiza, has an estimated net worth of about $1- $5 Million.
View this post on Instagram
Matt uses Instagram and Twitter. He shares his game and professional life on his social media.
However, Araiza has not updated his social media since August 2022.
Matt Araiza | Popularity Graph
Here is Araiza’s popularity trend for the past 12 months.
Araiza’s popularity soared around the time he debuted in NFL and was infamous after the allegation made by the minor.
Matt Araiza | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What number does Matt Araiza wear?
Araiza wore number 19 for the Buffalo Bills.
When did Matt Araiza get his nickname “Punt God”?
Araiza got his fans’ nickname “Punt God” after breaking Texas A&M’s Braden Mann record set by NCAA.
