The lawsuit against the Jaguars and former kicker Brandon McManus, who now plays for the Commanders, raises many concerns for both the team and the league. Alongside allegations of sexual misconduct involving two flight attendants, there’s another potentially significant issue for the team.
If alcohol was being served or consumed during the flight, it could put the Jaguars in trouble with the league.
In November 2022, two incidents involving apparent or actual alcohol consumption on team flights led the NFL to remind all teams about the relevant rule strongly.
After former Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing was arrested for DUI, which suggested he was drinking on the plane back from Green Bay after a Thursday night win, and Commanders players faced discipline for having a beer on the team plane back from Philly after a Monday night win, the league emphasized that future penalties would be more severe.
Parts of the memo from the league office were leaked, threatening “significant discipline” for future violations.
Whether the league was serious or not will be determined if, only 11 months later, the alleged partying on the plane to London involved the kind of alcoholic beverages that adults consume at parties.
For those who might disagree with the NFL’s stance on alcohol use on team planes or in team facilities, the aim is to ensure that once the plane lands and the employees go their separate ways in their personal cars, there’s no risk of them potentially causing harm to local citizens by driving drunk.
