The Bremerton School District in Washington State has unanimously agreed to a $1,775,000 settlement for former coach Joseph Kennedy. The decision allows Kennedy to return to Bremerton High School as an assistant football coach in 2023. In addition to the settlement, Kennedy will receive a $5,304 stipend for his involvement in the 2023 football season.

The district expressed its desire to move past the nearly eight-year legal dispute, focusing on providing students with the best education. School board president Alyson Rotter stated, “The school community is eager to put this nearly eight-year legal battle behind them.”

Kennedy, who was fired earlier, gained a legal victory when the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in June. The ruling affirmed his constitutional right to kneel and pray alongside student athletes on the field after games. This settlement and court decision mark positive developments for the coach after a prolonged legal battle.