Three decades of former Ohio State football players, including several who went on to NFL careers, have decided to become part of a federal legal action against the university regarding sexual abuse committed by a team physician years ago, according to an attorney involved in the case who spoke Thursday.
Attorney Rocky Ratliff explained during an interview that these men decided to step forward approximately eight years following the initial filing of the lawsuit because they had to work through feelings of shame about disclosing their sexual abuse by another male and concerns about publicly challenging the university.
The former players are “tearful and living with it,” Ratliff explained. “But as this case progresses on, they see how Ohio State’s treating athletes from the university and I think they want people to know it’s OK, even if it is male to male (sexual abuse), to come forward.”
Since 2018, Ohio State has been defending against federal court cases brought by former student athletes regarding the university’s inability to prevent abuse committed by Dr. Richard Strauss. Hundreds of individuals claim they experienced abuse from Strauss, who served at the institution between 1978 and 1998. Strauss passed away in 2005.
According to Ratliff, the men have executed agreement letters to become part of a legal case filed by other student-athletes who identify as Strauss victims.
Among the 30 individuals, just three have consented to public identification, Ratliff noted. These individuals are Al Washington, Ray Ellis and Keith Ferguson. All three were part of the 1980 Rose Bowl squad and were brought to the team by and competed under famous coach Woody Hayes. The Associated Press maintains a policy of not naming individuals who report being sexual abuse victims unless they voluntarily make their identities known.
According to Ratliff, some additional former football players have reached confidential settlement agreements with the institution that maintained their anonymity.
Ohio State issued a statement saying it has “sincerely and persistently tried to reconcile with survivors, including former football student-athletes, through monetary and non-monetary means, including settlements, counseling services and other medical treatment.”
Through April 15, the university has reached settlements with 317 survivors totaling over $61 million, and continues active participation in mediation processes, the institution stated.
During an interview, Washington described the difficulty of discussing his abuse experience and remembered enduring “unlawful” physical examinations from Strauss when he was 18 or 19 years old. He and fellow players attempted to cope by making light of the situation and joking among themselves.
“But it was really uncomfortable,” Washington, who is now 67, stated.
He avoided discussing the matter with others for decades, but viewing the 2025 documentary “Surviving Ohio State” brought the memories back to the forefront.
“As a matter of fact, I couldn’t make it through that movie,” Washington explained. “The pain and anguish that I saw, I just couldn’t take it.”
Strauss served on Ohio State’s faculty and medical team. He stepped down in 1998 with emeritus recognition. University trustees removed that honorary designation three years ago.
The New York Jets selected Washington in the 1981 draft, and he competed for one season with the franchise. Ellis, who played defensive back, enjoyed a seven-year NFL career spanning 1981 to 1987 with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. Ferguson, a former defensive end, competed in the NFL from 1981 to 1990, including time with the San Diego Chargers and Detroit Lions.
