Team Fires Coach After Sexual Assault Claims

The Atlanta Falcons cut ties with assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis following fresh accusations of sexual assault. Police in Ann Arbor are looking into the allegations, which trace back to a December incident while Lewis worked for Michigan football. The team’s announcement came the same day the local police confirmed they were investigating. The case began when a woman, who met Lewis on a dating app in July 2024, filed a police report and sought a protective order. She said the coach’s messages grew hostile over time. In December, the two met at Weber’s Hotel in Ann Arbor. The woman claims Lewis assaulted her there and later tried to force her to return items she had given him. She told Michigan’s head coach, Sherrone Moore, about the assault, but reports say Moore did not report the incident and instead sent her inappropriate texts. The coach’s lawyer denied any wrongdoing.Law enforcement actions were limited. In January, Milford Police responded to a call about raised voices at the woman’s home; officers recorded that Lewis and the victim had a verbal dispute, but no physical fight was reported. The police report noted that Lewis declined to discuss the matter with authorities, and no charges were filed. The woman later stated she feared speaking up. The allegations surfaced on Thursday night through a media outlet, prompting the Falcons to act swiftly. Lewis joined Atlanta in February after coaching at Michigan, Toledo, and UConn, and had a three‑year NFL playing career. Meanwhile, Michigan’s former head coach was dismissed in December for an inappropriate relationship with staff and is now facing stalking charges. The university has said it is reviewing its culture while encouraging witnesses to come forward.