Northwestern hazing scandal: Ex-football players settle lawsuit with school, ex-head coach

The former group Northwestern football player They reportedly agreed to settle their lawsuit against the school, which allegedly claimed hazmine and abusive behaviour.

The former player agreed to remove all charges against both the Northwest and former head Pat Fitzgerald as part of the settlement. Bloomberg reported.

Fitzgerald was suspended by Northwestern in July 2023 after a pre-player reported that Hayes was reported in November 2022. The school conducted its own survey.

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The former player agreed to remove all claims against both the Northwest and former head Pat Fitzgerald as part of the settlement. (Marc Lebryk-Usa Today Sports)

A statement was issued on Tuesday Fitzgerald’s lawyerDan Webb and Matthew Carter focused on evidence that their clients “did not commit any wrongdoing.” Fitzgerald is also moving forward with an illegal termination lawsuit against Northwestern.

“Coach Fitzgerald yesterday learned that Northwestern University and certain former Northwestern football players have concluded a global settlement agreement to dismiss all claims by players against Northwestern and Coach Fitzgerald,” the lawyer’s statement read through the internal zone.

“Despite extensive written and testimony discoveries, there is no evidence left to show or suggest that Coach Fitzgerald is aware of the haze at Northwestern. This finding confirmed what President Michael Sil said before and after Coach Fitzgerald’s end. Fitzgerald, or the other coaching staff, was aware of Hayes’ allegations.

Former Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald sues illegal fire due to hayes scandal

“While the settlement resolves the claims brought by the players, Coach Fitzgerald’s claims against Northwestern remain. He continues to argue that the Northwest has illegally terminated his employment, breached oral contracts, slander him and caused great damage to his Sterling’s reputation.”

Fitzgerald was suspended by Northwestern in July 2023 after a former player who reportedly reported hazing in November 2022. (Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY SPORTS)

Fitzgerald was initially suspended for two weeks in 2023, but he issued a statement claiming he had no knowledge of Hayes. The Northwestern player issued a statement defending the coach, but Sil admitted that it might have been wrong to stop Fitzgerald.

But more than that Former player He put allegations of racism ahead, and in the end, Sil fired Fitzgerald completely.

Fitzgerald filed an illegal dismissal lawsuit several months after his termination, claiming that he and Shil had reached an oral agreement that they would not face any further punishment from the university after a two-week suspension.