Northwestern University and former football coach Pat Fitzgerald have quietly settled a legal dispute that began two years ago amid a hazing scandal on the school’s football team. The details of the settlement have not been made public.
Fitzgerald, who led Northwestern’s football program for many years, sued the university for $130 million, claiming the school wrongly fired him and harmed his reputation. He denied ever knowing about hazing or allowing it to happen. Northwestern had suspended and then fired him after concluding he should have stopped the hazing once it was happening.
The controversy erupted in 2023 when former players came forward with lawsuits alleging sexual abuse and racial discrimination within the football team. Those accusations then spread to other sports at Northwestern. The school responded by investigating the program, even bringing in former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to look into the athletic department’s culture.
Both Fitzgerald and the university said the evidence showed he did not condone or direct hazing. Fitzgerald stated that the accusations and legal fight caused stress and embarrassment for his family. Earlier this year, Northwestern settled separate lawsuits filed by former football players.
Since the scandal broke, Northwestern has stepped up efforts to fight hazing. They’ve added more training for athletes and put systems in place to encourage reporting of any misconduct.
While the full terms of the settlement remain under wraps, this resolution closes a chapter in a difficult time for everyone involved. Both sides say they hope to move forward.