A former University of Michigan football coach has filed a federal lawsuit challenging his dismissal during the height of a major NCAA investigation into alleged cheating by the program.
Chris Partridge, who coached linebackers for the Wolverines, filed the legal action Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Michigan against the university, its governing board, and athletic director. The suit claims his November 2023 dismissal was unwarranted and violated his constitutional due process rights.
According to the court filing, Partridge’s “termination was wholly unjustified and without legitimate cause.” The lawsuit further alleges that “The University of Michigan unjustly terminated Partridge’s employment and spread false and damaging information regarding his professional conduct, tarnishing Partridge’s hard-earned reputation and inflicting irreparable harm on to his career and personal well-being.”
University officials have not yet responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press. The Big Ten Conference also declined to provide a statement regarding the litigation.
The coaching staff termination occurred while NCAA investigators were examining claims that Connor Stalions, a former Michigan employee, had organized an elaborate scheme to spy on opposing teams. The allegations centered on Stalions buying game tickets and dispatching individuals to record rival teams’ sideline signals, a practice prohibited under NCAA rules. Stalions stepped down from his position earlier in November 2023.
NCAA investigators concluded in 2025 that Stalions had indeed run the scouting operation for multiple years. The investigation also uncovered recruiting rule violations, resulting in substantial financial penalties for the university. However, Partridge was mostly exonerated of any direct involvement in the misconduct.
Following his termination, speculation mounted about the true reasons behind Partridge’s departure. He addressed the situation through social media, stating he had no awareness of any illegal scouting activities and explaining that his firing stemmed from allegedly violating university orders not to discuss the investigation with “anyone associated with the program.”
In his social media statement, he also clarified: “Additionally, at no point did I destroy any evidence related to the ongoing investigation.”
Since leaving Michigan, Partridge joined the Seattle Seahawks as their outside linebackers coach and recently celebrated with the team after their Super Bowl victory last month.
The legal documents reveal that university officials told Partridge his termination resulted from advising a player to “get an attorney,” which allegedly violated instructions against communicating with athletes during the probe.
While Partridge acknowledges making that statement to a player, his lawsuit argues that coaching staff members were never explicitly prohibited from player communication, which would have made normal football operations impossible.
“Partridge was a scapegoat who was wrongly fired simply because he told a player he had the right to have counsel,” the lawsuit states.
The suit also accuses the university of damaging his professional reputation through deliberate misinformation. It claims athletics department staff and at least one board member falsely told media that Partridge was dismissed for “destroying evidence.” This information was subsequently published by multiple news outlets, including reporting that cited Yahoo Sports claiming Partridge “allegedly tried to cover up evidence.”
Partridge’s dismissal came just before Michigan captured the national football championship. The day following his firing, university leaders and Big Ten officials reached an agreement allowing then-head coach Jim Harbaugh to serve his final two-game suspension in exchange for the conference dropping its sign-stealing investigation.
The lawsuit requests monetary damages to be decided during trial proceedings, along with efforts to restore Partridge’s professional standing and reputation.
