Northwestern Settles Former Football Players' Hazing Lawsuit

Northwestern has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by students against the university and former head football coach Pat Fitzgerald. 

According to WGN9, Northwestern asked that a trial date for the students' lawsuit, which alleges hazing took place within the football team, be pushed out. This included asking for an extension of a trial for a lawsuit Fitzgerald brought against Northwestern. 

Northwestern has engaged in mediation with the student plaintiffs and has come to a resolution in that case. The school has not resolved the lawsuit Fitzgerald filed against the university. 

“As was reported during a recent hearing, we have entered into a provisional settlement between our former student-athlete clients and Northwestern University,” a statement from the students' attorneys Patrick Salvi and Parker Stinar reads. “While the terms of the provisional settlement are confidential, we intend to continue to work through the remaining outstanding issues to finalize a settlement that will hopefully allow both sides to move forward in a positive way.”

Attorneys Dan Webb and Matthew Carter released the following statement Tuesday on behalf of Fitzgerald:

“Coach Fitzgerald learned yesterday that Northwestern University and certain former Northwestern football players have finalized a global settlement agreement to dismiss all claims made by the players against Northwestern and Coach Fitzgerald. As previously stated, Coach Fitzgerald committed no wrongdoing.

“Despite extensive written and testimonial discovery, there remains no evidence to show or suggest that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of any hazing at Northwestern. The discovery has thus confirmed what Northwestern said through President Michael Schill both before and after Coach Fitzgerald’s termination: that there is no evidence that Coach Fitzgerald was aware of any hazing and that, despite a thorough and months-long investigation, Maggie Hickey found no credible evidence to believe Coach Fitzgerald, or any other coaching staff, knew about any alleged hazing.

“We are not surprised, because we have always known that Coach Fitzgerald did not know of any hazing within the Northwestern football program and that he took every reasonable step possible to ensure that hazing did not occur. Coach Fitzgerald has proven himself a staunch advocate of student well-being, including by consistently emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy on hazing. He implemented and maintained some of the strongest anti-hazing programs and policies in collegiate sports. In fact, before Northwestern football players could even step onto the practice field, each player was required to sign a Hazing Policy acknowledgement form that detailed Northwestern’s definition of hazing, explained that hazing was forbidden, and set forth that hazing activities could constitute a crime.

“It is well-known that Coach Fitzgerald worked tirelessly to create an environment where student athletes were supported and given all the tools necessary to succeed both on and, more importantly, off the field. Coach Fitzgerald always emphasized his dedication to maintaining a safe and respectful atmosphere within his program, and that dedication was backed by his actions. His antihazing initiatives were fully integrated into the operations of the team, along with numerous programs and initiatives provided by Northwestern inside and outside the Athletic Department. While the settlement resolves the claims brought by the players, Coach Fitzgerald’s claims against Northwestern remain. He continues to assert that Northwestern illegally terminated his employment, violated an oral contract, and defamed him, causing significant damage to his sterling reputation.

“Yesterday, Northwestern tried to postpone the trial of Coach Fitzgerald’s claims by nearly five months. The Court denied that motion and Coach Fitzgerald’s trial will take place on November

3, 2025. He looks forward to having his day in court, where he expects a jury will hold Northwestern and President Schill accountable for the extreme harm done to his personal and professional reputation.”