Northwestern University disclosed a $121.03 million legal settlement payout in fiscal year 2025, covering a range of lawsuits tied to the football program’s hazing scandal.
A costly resolution
The payout includes a $75 million settlement with the federal government to resolve a civil‑rights investigation, as well as compensation to former players who alleged abuse.
Former head coach Pat Fitzgerald, dismissed in July 2023 after the hazing allegations surfaced, filed a wrongful‑termination suit seeking $130 million. He later reached a settlement with the university on August 21, 2025, and in December 2025 signed a $30 million contract to return to coaching at Michigan State.
The financial fallout also rippled through the athletic department, with David Braun, who succeeded Fitzgerald as interim coach, earning $3.02 million in 2024, while basketball coach Chris Collins topped the payroll at nearly $3.9 million. Athletic director Mark Jackson received $2.22 million, and former director Derrick Gragg, who was reassigned after the scandal, was paid $1.4 million.
The settlements were first reported in the university’s latest tax return, which detailed the $121.03 million figure as encompassing multiple legal resolutions.