Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy has been named as a defendant in two lawsuits filed Thursday by former Northwestern football players, ESPN reported.
Murphy was the athletic director at Northwestern from 2003-07, when two unnamed players allege they were victims of hazing and other improper acts.
Joining Murphy as defendants are former head coach Pat Fitzgerald, former university president Henry Bienen and the university board of trustees, according to the report.
Bienen was president from 1995-2009. Murphy left Northwestern to join the Packers in 2007.
Neither Murphy nor the Packers commented as of Thursday afternoon.
In all, four more lawsuits were filed Thursday, with two of them listing only the university as a defendant, per ESPN. In all, 13 former players have filed lawsuits since the conclusion of an independent investigation into allegations of hazing.
The two ex-players suing Murphy and others did not disclose their names, filing as “John Doe.” Per ESPN, the men also allege they were subjected to sexual abuse and racial discrimination and contend Fitzgerald was aware and “encouraged” the actions.
Fitzgerald, who has maintained he was unaware of any hazing, was fired on July 10 after 17 seasons and a 110 -101 record.
The university announced Tuesday that it had hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to conduct an independent review of its athletics programs and culture.
–Field Level Media
