The Atlanta Falcons have cut ties with newly hired assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis less than a month after bringing him on staff — following explosive allegations of rape and battery tied to his time at the University of Michigan.
Lewis was dismissed Friday, Feb. 27, just one day after a report surfaced detailing an alleged December 2024 sexual assault in Ann Arbor. The report included screenshots of alleged text messages and photos of injuries provided by the accuser.
The Falcons first acknowledged the allegations in a brief statement saying they were gathering information. Hours later, the team announced Lewis had been dismissed.
Police in Ann Arbor confirmed they are investigating.
“The Ann Arbor Police Department was just recently made aware of allegations regarding a sexual assault reported to have occurred on December 5, 2024. The suspect in this investigation is LaTroy Lewis,” a department spokesperson said. “The investigation remains active and ongoing.”
Lewis had joined the Falcons coaching staff on Feb. 10.
According to reports, the accuser says she met Lewis through a dating app and traveled to Ann Arbor for work before the alleged assault occurred in a hotel room on Dec. 5. Her attorney described his behavior as “increasingly aggressive.” Alleged text messages shared publicly include violent threats, and images of an eye injury were also released.
The woman further claims that in January 2025, Lewis became physically violent with her again at her Michigan apartment. Police reportedly responded at the time, but she did not initially disclose the alleged assault out of fear.
Days before the allegations became public, the accuser filed a police report and sought a protective order, according to her attorney.
Lewis declined to comment publicly on the allegations. His attorney, Fabiola A. Galguera, called the claims “false” and said he intends to fight them.
“Allegations of sexual misconduct are not proof of sexual misconduct,” Galguera said in a statement. “Mr. Lewis intends to fiercely fight these false allegations with the support of his wife, family, and my team.”
The situation has also pulled in former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore. The accuser alleges she informed Moore about the incident shortly after it occurred. Her attorney claims Moore failed to report the alleged assault and later sent her inappropriate messages.
An attorney for Moore denied those accusations, calling them false.
Moore no longer works at Michigan. He was fired in December 2025 over an unrelated inappropriate relationship with a staff member and is currently awaiting trial on separate charges.
As the investigation continues, the Falcons have moved swiftly to distance themselves from Lewis, ending his tenure with the team before it truly began.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE or visit rainn.org for support.