Buffalo Bills first-round draft pick Maxwell Hairston has been accused of sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The allegations stem from an incident that reportedly occurred when Hairston was a 17-year-old freshman at the University of Kentucky.
The lawsuit claims that on the night of March 24, 2021, or the early morning hours of March 25, 2021, Hairston entered a woman’s dorm room without an invitation. According to the lawsuit, the woman repeatedly told Hairston she was tired and uninterested in sexual intercourse, but he allegedly proceeded to remove her pajama shorts and sexually assaulted her.
Background and Legal Proceedings
Following the incident, the woman filed a police report and underwent a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner exam at a local hospital. The lawsuit states that the emotional and psychological harm from the incident forced her to transfer out of the University of Kentucky, as she found it impossible to continue her education in the same environment where the assault allegedly occurred.
In a statement, the woman’s attorney, Lauren Edmunds from the law firm Meyers & Flowers, emphasized the broader implications of the case.
“This case is not just about one night — it’s about sending a message that sexual assault will not be tolerated — on college campuses, in sports, or anywhere else,”
Edmunds said.
Previous Allegations and University Response
The accusations against Hairston first surfaced in 2022 when a female student shared screenshots of a complaint and police report on social media, alleging that Hairston raped her in her dorm room. The University of Kentucky’s daily crime log indicated investigations into offenses of first-degree rape and first-degree burglary, yet no criminal charges were filed. Additionally, a Title IX hearing reportedly resulted in no action taken by the university.
The Buffalo Bills have deferred to comments made by general manager Brandon Beane following their selection of Hairston with the 30th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Beane addressed the allegations in April, stating,
“He’s an impeccable kid, and we did a lot of research. I think all teams were aware of the Title IX thing. That was fully investigated by the school. There’s everything out. He even volunteered to a polygraph and had notes… Just like anything in this world, you can’t just take someone’s account and think ‘That’s the truth.’ We fully investigated that. If there was anything to it, he wouldn’t have been invited to the (NFL Scouting) Combine.”
Current Developments and Future Implications
The lawsuit currently seeks a jury trial along with compensatory and punitive damages. Representatives for Hairston have not yet responded to requests for comment from The Athletic.
Meanwhile, Hairston, who suffered a minor hamstring injury during the Bills’ minicamp in June, is expected to be ready for the team’s upcoming training camp. The situation remains fluid as the legal process unfolds, and the implications for Hairston’s career and the Buffalo Bills organization could be significant depending on the outcome of the lawsuit.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about how allegations of sexual assault are handled within collegiate sports and professional leagues. As more details emerge, the sports community and legal experts will be closely monitoring the proceedings to see how they might influence future policies and practices regarding player conduct and accountability.
