Pat Fitzgerald: Contract| Who is| Why did get fired| Wiki| Wife

Who Is Pat Fitzgerald

Pat Fitzgerald is a former American college-football player and coach best known for his longtime association with Northwestern Wildcats football program (the college team of Northwestern University).

• As a player in the mid-1990s, Fitzgerald starred as a linebacker for Northwestern. He earned several defensive honors, becoming a two-time national defensive player of the year and winning awards such as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award.

• Later, he returned to Northwestern as a coach. From 2006 to 2023, Fitzgerald served as the head coach of Northwestern’s football program — a long tenure of 17 seasons.

• Under his leadership, the team recorded a 110-101 win-loss record.

• His coaching highlights include leading Northwestern to several bowl games (the program had only a few prior to his arrival) and winning division titles in the Big Ten Conference West division.

In short: Pat Fitzgerald was once one of college football’s most secure, long-tenured coaches — former star player turned longtime head coach at his alma mater.

His Contract: What Did It Look Like

• In January 2021, Fitzgerald signed a contract extension with Northwestern that ran through 2030 (some sources note at least through 2031 under earlier terms).

• The contract reportedly had a minimum annual salary of around US $5.65 million.

• Based on that salary and the remaining term, Fitzgerald claimed that if fired without cause, he would be owed tens of millions — potentially more than US $43 million.

• Following his firing, in October 2023, Fitzgerald filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit seeking up to US $130 million — combining unpaid salary, damages for lost future employment opportunities, and emotional distress.

• In mid-2025, the lawsuit was reportedly settled between him and Northwestern.

Thus, his contract was among the more lucrative and long-term deals in college football — which made his firing and subsequent legal battle a high-stakes affair.

Why Did He Get Fired

The firing of Pat Fitzgerald was prompted by serious allegations of hazing within the Northwestern football program.

• An investigation (commissioned by the university and conducted by an independent law firm) found evidence of widespread hazing that included forced participation, nudity, and sexualized acts of a degrading nature, allegedly involving older players targeting freshmen.

• The alleged acts reportedly occurred in locker rooms and during preseason training camps. According to a former player’s testimony, older players would restrain younger players and force them into sexualized “hazing” rituals.

• According to the former player, one signal for selecting players for this “haz­ing” was a hand-clap gesture known as the “Shrek clap” — and he asserted that Fitzgerald, as head coach, used that signal during practices.

• The university’s president at the time stated that “the head coach is ultimately responsible for the culture of his team” and that the investigations revealed a “broken” culture.

• Even though the initial independent investigation reportedly did not find conclusive proof that Fitzgerald directly knew of or participated in the hazing, the university reversed course after media reporting by a student newspaper unveiled detailed allegations. As a result, the school concluded Fitzgerald had “opportunity” to know and should have done more to prevent it — leading to his firing “for cause.”

In summary: Fitzgerald was dismissed not for on-field performance alone, but because his program was found to have a systemic hazing culture, and he was deemed responsible as head coach for failing to prevent or intervene in that culture.

Wiki-style Profile (Career & Key Facts)

Personal / Wife & Family (What’s Public)

• Public records and media coverage of Fitzgerald focus overwhelmingly on his football career, his firing, and the lawsuit. There is little credible public information about his personal life — including a wife or family — that meets trustworthy, verifiable standards.

• In media reports about his firing and lawsuit, discussions center on Fitzgerald, but do not reliably name or profile a spouse, partner, or wife. For example, coverage of his settlement and “vindication” does not mention a wife or personal family details.

• Because these personal aspects are either not publicly documented or not verified by reputable sources, I cannot responsibly create speculative details about his marital status or private life.

Recent Developments (2025)

• In November 2025, there are media reports that Michigan State Spartans intend to hire Pat Fitzgerald as their new head football coach.

• This development suggests that despite his 2023 firing and the hazing scandal, Fitzgerald may return to coaching — indicating that some in college football believe he remains qualified and capable.

• Fitzgerald himself said after the 2025 settlement that he feels “100% vindicated” and is actively seeking a return to the sidelines.

Why His Story Matters & What It Illustrates

• The Fitzgerald case highlights the responsibility head coaches hold not only for on-field performance, but team culture, safety, and ethics. Even if a coach lacks direct involvement, failure to prevent or address harmful behaviors — such as hazing — can lead to severe consequences.

• His large, long-term contract and subsequent lawsuit show how high the financial and reputational stakes can be in college athletics — and how accountability can extend beyond wins and losses.

• The fact that he is now reportedly getting another major coaching opportunity suggests complex dynamics in college sports: balancing past controversies with talent, redemption, and the demand for experienced coaches.