Falcons Fire LaTroy Lewis After Police Probe Into Michigan-Linked Assault Allegation
Lewis was dismissed after social media allegations and an Ann Arbor Police investigation into a Dec. 5, 2024 alleged sexual assault named him as a suspect.
FOX NewsFalcons dismiss assistant coach LaTroy Lewis amid police probe into Michigan-linked allegations
NBC NewsAtlanta Falcons fire newly hired assistant coach after sexual assault allegations
Associated PressFalcons dismiss assistant coach LaTroy Lewis, who has been named a suspect in a sexual assault case
Overview
The Atlanta Falcons dismissed assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis after the team said it was gathering information about sexual assault allegations.
Podcast host Justin Spiro posted claims tied to Lewis that led to scrutiny of an alleged incident reported to have occurred on December 5, 2024.
The Ann Arbor Police Department said the suspect in the investigation is LaTroy Lewis and that its Detective Bureau launched an immediate, active investigation.
The accuser's attorney, Karen Truszkowski, said the woman filed an incident report with Ann Arbor police, requested a protective order, and said she connected with Lewis on a dating app in July 2024.
Lewis's attorney, Fabiola A. Galguera, said he intends to fiercely fight the allegations, and Michigan spokesman Paul Corliss called the allegations deeply concerning while a university review continues.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the matter in restrained, factual terms: they use cautious wording ('allegations,' 'named as a suspect'), attribute claims to police and the accuser’s attorney, include institutional responses from the Falcons and Michigan, and emphasize an ongoing investigation — avoiding judgmental descriptions and keeping quoted accusations as source content.
FAQ
According to the allegations, Lewis and the woman connected on a dating app in July 2024 while Lewis was an assistant defensive line coach at Michigan[1]. Lewis's behavior became increasingly aggressive over text and phone calls[1]. They met in person for the first time on December 5, 2024, at Weber's Hotel in Ann Arbor, where the alleged sexual assault occurred[1]. In January 2025, police responded to a call at the woman's home after neighbors heard raised voices, though both parties told officers it was only a verbal argument[2]. The allegations were first publicly reported on Thursday night by Darko State Media, and the Falcons dismissed Lewis on Friday[1].
According to the accuser's attorney, the woman informed then-Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, whom she knew personally, about the incident[1]. The attorney alleged that Moore did not report Lewis to authorities and instead "weaponized" the incident against the woman, including sending her lewd and sexually charged text messages[1]. However, Moore's attorney, Ellen Michaels, denied these allegations in a statement to ESPN[1].
The Ann Arbor Police Department confirmed that it was recently made aware of the allegations and launched an immediate investigation into the December 5, 2024 incident[1]. According to a statement from the department, the investigation into Lewis remains active and ongoing[2]. The accuser's attorney stated that the woman filed an incident report with Ann Arbor police and applied for a protective order earlier in the week[2].
The allegations against Lewis were first reported publicly on Thursday night by Darko State Media[1]. Lewis was hired by the Atlanta Falcons on February 10, 2026, after coaching stints at Michigan, Toledo, and UConn[1]. He previously played defensive line at Tennessee and spent three seasons in the NFL[1]. The Falcons dismissed him from his role as assistant defensive line coach on Friday after the allegations surfaced[1].
A University of Michigan spokesman, Paul Corliss, told ESPN that the allegations were "deeply concerning"[2]. The university stated that a review of the matter is continuing[2]. No further details about the scope or timeline of the university's review have been disclosed in the available reports.
