Two unnamed flight attendants have filed suit against the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team and former placekicker Brandon McManus, accusing him of sexual assault during an 8-hour flight to London last fall.
The women, referred to only as Jane Doe I and II in the Duval County Circuit Court complaint, claim that McManus grabbed them on separate occasions, “grinded” against their bodies in a sexual manner, and tried to kiss one of them. McManus was obviously intoxicated and the flight had turned into a party atmosphere, with the smell of marijuana wafting from a restroom on the airplane, the complaint alleges.
The team did nothing to protect the flight attendants, create a safe environment or train players on “appropriate sexual contact with flight staff,” all of which constitutes negligence, the suit alleges.
It’s part of a history of inappropriate behavior by NFL players, the complaint reads.
“The NFL is no stranger to scandal, especially when it comes to offenses against women,” the suit argues. “Despite a pervasive advertising campaign to the contrary, many of its players have been accused of committing heinous sexual crimes and transgressions. The NFL’s failure to properly address this undeniable culture of sexual harassment and violence against women led to the preventable and disgraceful sexual misconduct towards Plaintiffs at the hands of Defendant Brandon McManus.”
McManus, now with the Washington Commanders, has not yet answered the charges in court. The women both reside in the Houston area and are represented by a Texas-based attorney. The attendants worked for Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, which provided the private flights for NFL teams.
The complaint also notes that on previous flights, the flight attendants had enjoyed the trips and found the players to be mostly respectful and kind. Since the London trip, however, the women have been removed from the core crew working Jaguars’ flights and they have suffered mental anguish and career disruption. The suit asks for more than $1 million in damages.
Photo: McManus, No. 10, after missing a field goal in a December 2023 game against Tampa Bay. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
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