The University of Maryland, College Park and the state and the Attorney General’s Office reached a $ 3.5 million settlement with the family of Jordan McNair, the 19-year-old footballer who died in June 2018 after suffer heat stroke after a stoppage – training for the season team.
The deal is pending approval by the Maryland Public Works Council, which is due to meet on January 27 to discuss the matter. The approval would mark the final step in the two-year settlement process for McNair’s parents, Martin McNair and Tonya Wilson.
“Marty and Tonya are relieved that this fight is over and they are leaving it behind as they continue to mourn Jordan’s death,” Hassan Murphy, a lawyer representing the parents, said in a statement. “They are committed to channeling their pain and loss into the work that remains to protect the lives of student-athletes around the world, educating them about the signs and risks of heat stroke on exertion.”
McNair passed out during a team workout in May 2018 and was hospitalized with heat stroke. He died fifteen days later, on June 13, 2018. A few months later, reports emerged of a culture of intimidation and abuse under the command of then coach DJ Durkin and his team, NBC Sports reported. Durkin was later dismissed after the university faced pressure from its professors, students and lawmakers. An earlier independent investigation into McNair’s death found that the Maryland medical team was unable to properly identify and treat McNair’s symptoms, which contributed to his death.
In August 2018, university officials apologized to McNair’s family for the mistakes that led to the death of the promising young footballer who was announced as a four-star recruit and ranked in the top 25 nationally for lineworkers.
McNair’s family founded the Jordan McNair Foundation shortly after his death in an effort to raise awareness of heat-related illnesses in youth, high school and college sports. Martin McNair recently spoke about the use of “legislation in the mission to raise awareness about heat-related illnesses and keep our student athletes safe”.
“And we, as a company, are committed to working with them and the Maryland Legislature to reform this state’s liability laws so that the recovery of any family is potentially limited by law to less than what the responsible party received on their way out the door, “said Murphy.
At least 30 college football players died of heat stroke between 2000 and 2018, according to the American Council on Science and Health.
