Why did the Atlanta Falcons fire LaTroy Lewis weeks after hiring him? Police investigation over disturbing allegations explained

The Atlanta Falcons moved quickly on Feb. 27, cutting assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis hours after acknowledging they were reviewing serious allegations tied to his time at Michigan.

The decision followed confirmation from the Ann Arbor Police Department that Lewis is under investigation for an alleged se*ual assault reported to have occurred on December 5, 2024.Lewis had recently joined Atlanta’s staff after coaching stops at Michigan and Toledo. His firing came the same day police publicly confirmed an active investigation. The situation has since expanded beyond the NFL, drawing responses from university officials, attorneys, and prosecutors as questions grow around how earlier complaints were handled.

The Atlanta Falcons fired LaTroy Lewis

The Falcons hired LaTroy Lewis earlier this offseason as part of their defensive staff. By Friday afternoon, he was gone. The team first said it was aware of the allegations and gathering information. Later that day, it announced his dismissal.

The accusations stem from Lewis’ tenure at Michigan, where he worked from 2022 through early 2025 under Jim Harbaugh and later Sherrone Moore. According to the accuser’s attorney, the woman met Lewis through a dating app and alleged that an assault occurred during a December 2024 meeting in Ann Arbor.

“He r**ed her, assaulted her, beat her up,” attorney Karen Truszkowski said (via The Athletic).Lewis’ attorney, Fabiola A. Galguera, rejected the claims in a statement: "Allegations of se*ual misconduct are not proof of se*ual misconduct. It is essential to pass judgment based on facts, and the facts are currently not being presented to the public. Mr. Lewis intends to fiercely fight these false allegations with the support of his wife, family, and my team."A personal protective order case was initiated in Washtenaw County court, though records were not publicly available at the time of reporting.

What did the police say about LaTroy Lewis' investigation?

Police confirmed the case remains active. Chris Page of the Ann Arbor Police Department stated: "The Ann Arbor Police Department was just recently made aware of allegations regarding a se*ual assault reported to have occurred on December 5, 2024. The suspect in this investigation is LaTroy Lewis.

The AAPD Detective Bureau launched an immediate investigation into the incident. This investigation remains active and ongoing.

"The Washtenaw County prosecutor’s office clarified its role, stating it "is not an investigatory body." Spokeswoman Liz Mack added, "Law-enforcement investigates alleged criminal conduct, and, following an investigation, may submit evidence regarding potential criminal activity to our office for review," and, "As with any case, if a report is submitted, we will review the evidence and make a determination based on the facts and the law.

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Is Sherrone Moore linked to the investigation?

The accuser alleges she informed Moore about the incident shortly after it occurred and claims he did not report it through proper university channels. Her attorney said, “As a lay person, she assumed that because he was the head football coach that he would want to address it, knowing it was one of his coaches that had done this,” and further alleged, “Instead of being supportive and reporting it, as he was required to do, he started to weaponize it against her.

”Moore’s attorney, Ellen Michaels, denied those claims: "Sherrone Moore did not fail to report misconduct, did not reward wrongdoing, and did not harass anyone. These claims are false."The University of Michigan called the allegations “deeply concerning.” Spokesperson Paul Corliss said that the University launched an investigation of “the circumstances and conduct leading to Sherrone Moore’s firing, as well as a broader culture review of the Athletic Department.” The investigation remains ongoing.