A woman has filed a civil lawsuit against Buffalo Bills first-round draft pick Maxwell Hairston, accusing the rookie cornerback of sexually assaulting her in March 2021 while they were both students at the University of Kentucky.
According to the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, the woman identified only by her initials to protect her privacy claims that she met Hairston at a social gathering near the university’s campus. The suit alleges that Hairston invited her to another location later that night, where she says the assault occurred.
The woman alleges that she was intoxicated and unable to provide consent, and that Hairston engaged in non-consensual sexual activity despite her impaired state. She further claims that the incident left her suffering from post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression, and she is seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress and the alleged violation of her rights.
“This lawsuit is about accountability,” her attorney said in a statement. “Our client deserves to have her voice heard and for her pain to be recognized.”
Hairston, 21, was drafted 30th overall by the Buffalo Bills in April 2025 after a standout collegiate career at Kentucky. During the pre-draft process, sources confirm that the Bills were made aware of prior university and police investigations into the 2021 allegations, but no criminal charges were ever filed, and Hairston was not found responsible under the university’s Title IX review.
In a statement released by his legal team on Wednesday, Hairston denied all allegations:
“These claims are completely false and defamatory. Maxwell has cooperated fully with all previous investigations and maintains his innocence. He looks forward to clearing his name through the legal process.”
The Buffalo Bills also addressed the matter in a public statement:
“We are aware of the lawsuit involving Maxwell Hairston. Our organization takes such matters seriously. We were informed of the prior investigation during our evaluation process and conducted our own internal review. We will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and will refrain from further comment at this time.”
The NFL confirmed that the league is reviewing the matter under its Personal Conduct Policy, though Hairston has not been placed on any reserve or restricted list. He continues to participate in team activities during the Bills’ offseason program.
This lawsuit adds a serious and developing layer of controversy to the early stages of Hairston’s NFL career. While he is projected to compete for a starting role in Buffalo’s secondary, questions now surround his legal future and potential league discipline.
The case is expected to proceed to pre-trial hearings later this summer.
Leave a Reply