Just hours after allegations of violence against newly hired Atlanta Falcons coach LaTroy Lewis became public on Friday, the team dismissed its assistant defensive line coach.
Reporter Justin Spiro outlined the claims involving Lewis, who joined the Falcons on Feb. 10, tied to his tenure as an assistant at University of Michigan football during 2023–24.
According to Spiro, a woman alleges that the 32-year-old Lewis raped and assaulted her in separate incidents and sent graphic messages “ordering her to perform various sexual acts.”
The married father of three also allegedly texted threats including, “I’m going to f–k you up,” and “I’d f–king kill you! Don’t play with me.”
ESPN reported that police in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are investigating the sexual assault allegations against Lewis.
“Allegations of sexual misconduct are not proof of wrongdoing. Judgments must be based on facts, and those facts have not yet been presented publicly,” said Lewis’ attorney, Fabiola A. Galguera. “Mr. Lewis intends to vigorously contest these false claims with the support of his wife, family, and my team.”
Spiro reported that when the anonymous woman raised concerns about Lewis’ conduct to then-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore, her claims were dismissed.
Moore was later dismissed following a high-profile episode in which he allegedly threatened suicide in front of a staff member with whom he was having an affair.
LaTroy Lewis is seen during the pro day at the University of Tennessee.
Following Justin Spiro’s report, the Atlanta Falcons said they were aware of the allegations and were “gathering information,” adding that they would not comment further at this time.
Lewis is the latest former staff member from the University of Michigan football program to face legal trouble. Sherrone Moore is dealing with felony home invasion and stalking charges related to a Dec. 10 incident. Matt Weiss, who was dismissed in 2023 as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, was indicted on 24 counts in March 2025 over allegations that he hacked student computer accounts over eight years in search of intimate images and videos.
Lewis played college football at Tennessee from 2013 to 2016 before brief stints in the NFL with the Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted defensive lineman.
In 2020, the Ohio native transitioned into coaching, serving on staffs at University of Akron, University of South Alabama and Wake Forest University before joining Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines staff in 2023. He later moved to University of Toledo in 2025 as defensive line coach.
Lewis’ biography page on the Falcons’ website, as well as his name on the team’s offseason staff tracker, was taken down Friday.