Northwestern Football Players Near Settlement in Hazing Lawsuits

CHICAGO (AP) — A group of former Northwestern University football players is nearing a settlement with the school regarding lawsuits that allege hazing and abuse within the team, attorneys and a university spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

The attorneys, Patrick Salvi and Parker Stinar, referred to the impending agreement as a “provisional settlement” and stated they are finalizing the outstanding issues. Details of the settlement remain confidential, but Northwestern University’s spokesperson Jon Yates said the agreement will resolve the claims brought by the student plaintiffs against the institution and former football coach Pat Fitzgerald.

However, Yates noted that the settlement will not resolve Fitzgerald’s counterclaims against Northwestern University, as he contends he was wrongfully terminated and denies any allegations of wrongdoing during his 17 seasons as head coach.

In July 2023, the first lawsuit was filed by a player identified as John Doe, who played for the Wildcats from 2018 to 2022. The lawsuit accused Fitzgerald, alongside school leaders including President Michael Schill and former athletic director Derrick Gragg, of enabling and covering up incidents of sexual misconduct and racial discrimination. This lawsuit was quickly followed by similar suits from other former players.

“We were conditioned to believe that this behavior was normal, which was sickening and unacceptable,” said attorney Ben Crump, who represents some of the players. He urged young athletes to stand up for themselves, encouraging them to speak out against such treatment.

By May 2024, ESPN reported that 25 former players had filed lawsuits against Northwestern, alleging widespread hazing and mistreatment within the football program. An internal investigation revealed startling details of hazing rituals that had sent shockwaves through the university’s athletic department.

Schill, addressing the Northwestern community after the hazing allegations surfaced, confirmed the university’s findings in a letter. He stated, “The hazing we investigated was widespread and clearly not a secret within the program, providing Coach Fitzgerald with the opportunity to learn what was happening.”

Fitzgerald’s attorneys maintain his innocence, asserting that there is no evidence he was aware of the hazing activities. “Despite extensive written and testimonial discovery, there remains no evidence to show or suggest that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of any hazing at Northwestern,” they said in a statement.

Fitzgerald’s own trial against Northwestern is scheduled for November 3, where he claims his firing was illegal and damages were done to his reputation.

The university has responded to the allegations by implementing changes aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. These measures include enhanced anti-hazing training for athletes, a new reporting portal for misconduct, and a dedicated oversight position for the university’s athletic programs.

As the settlement process moves forward, it represents a significant chapter in Northwestern’s efforts to address the allegations that have marred its storied athletic program.