Pat Fitzgerald, who served as Northwestern’s head coach from 2006 to 2023, was fired amid allegations of hazing within the Wildcats football program. Shortly after his termination, he filed a $130 million lawsuit against the school, and today, two years later, a settlement was reached, marking a significant win for the former coach.
Fitzgerald has not returned to coaching since his firing, and following the settlement, he criticized the media for their judgment of him during the scandal. What did the coach say?
Pat Fitzgerald Criticizes Media After Reaching Settlement With Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald was one of the most respected coaches in college football before the hazing scandal emerged. He led the Wildcats for 17 years until the scandal led to his firing, even though he consistently maintained that he had no knowledge of the hazing.
After a two-year legal battle, Fitzgerald reached a settlement on Thursday, August 21. While the details have not been disclosed, it effectively clears his name. Northwestern released a statement noting that all the evidence presented in the case showed that no player ever reported the hazing to the head coach.
Statement from Northwestern on the settlement of lawsuit with Pat Fitzgerald: “The evidence uncovered during extensive discovery did not establish that any player reported hazing to Coach Fitzgerald or that Coach Fitzgerald condoned or directed any hazing.” pic.twitter.com/nskLOLj1gJ
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 21, 2025
“The evidence uncovered during extensive discovery did not establish that any player reported hazing to Coach Fitzgerald or that Coach Fitzgerald condoned or directed any hazing,” the university said in its statement.
While Fitzgerald has been proven innocent, the former Northwestern head coach has not yet returned to coaching. In a statement following the settlement, he criticized the media for their role in damaging his and his family’s reputation.
“The rush to judgment in the media in July of 2023 and the reports that suggested I knew about and directed hazing are false and have caused me, my wife, and my three sons great stress, embarrassment, and reputational harm in the last two years,” Fitzgerald wrote.
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He isn’t wrong, as the college football world quickly published articles and appeared on TV criticizing him shortly after the scandal was announced, despite there being no evidence linking him to the hazing.
While Fitzgerald didn’t turn Northwestern into a college football powerhouse during his tenure, he led the team to several strong seasons, including three 10-win campaigns and five bowl victories. With his name now cleared, Fitzgerald will likely be a top candidate in the coaching carousel after the 2025 season as programs search for their next head coach.
However, to his point, the scandal and the media’s portrayal of him have clearly harmed his career and reputation in college football. It will be interesting to see if and when Fitzgerald makes his return to coaching in the coming months.
