Former NFL Quarterback JaMarcus Russell Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Donation for Alma Mater’s Football Program

Former NFL quarterback JaMarcus Russell is currently entangled in a lawsuit stemming from a $74,000 check intended as a donation to his high school football program at Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama.

These legal actions began when Navigator Credit Union filed a lawsuit against Russell in Mobile County Circuit Court, claiming that the credit union unintentionally lent him around $55,000 upon him depositing the said check in July 2022.

Russell, who became the No. 1 draft pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, later became a third-party plaintiff in the same lawsuit, pointing fingers at Christopher Knowles and his business, Selwonk Enterprises, for stopping payment on the check and causing him financial losses.

According to Russell, Knowles convinced him to deposit the check by making false representations about the donation being intended for Williamson High School’s football program, specifically for new weight-room equipment.

Contrarily, Knowles claims that he issued the check at Russell’s request but later halted the payment when he was unable to obtain evidence that the donation had reached the intended destination.

Despite the intended donation, Williamson High School has reportedly not benefited from the $74,000 contribution, and details about the funds are still unclear.

Russell was relieved of his volunteer assistant coaching duties at Williamson High School in the previous year, with the specifics of his removal undisclosed by school officials.

However, recent reports indicate that Russell’s presence at a team event prompted Mobile County Public School officials to remind him that he is not allowed near the football program or on the school campus.

The lawsuit, set for trial in October, adds another chapter to the former NFL quarterback’s controversial career that saw him labeled as one of the most significant draft busts in the league’s history.