Ex-Ohio State Football Players to Join Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against School
More than a dozen former NFL players have joined a growing legal effort against Ohio State University, alleging they were sexually abused decades ago by former campus physician Dr. Richard Strauss during their time as student athletes. The new filings expand a long-running class action that has been unfolding in federal court since 2018 and already involves hundreds of former students and athletes.
Former players say abuse occurred during routine medical care
The men involved in the latest filings include former Ohio State football players who later went on to careers in the NFL. They allege Strauss abused them under the guise of required medical examinations while they were part of the university’s athletic program. Thirty former Buckeyes football players in total have now joined the broader legal action, with more than a dozen of them confirmed to have played professionally in the NFL. Some of the publicly identified athletes include Al Washington, Ray Ellis, and Keith Ferguson, all of whom were part of Ohio State’s 1980 Rose Bowl team and later played in professional football leagues.
A widening legal battle years in the making
The lawsuit is part of an eight year legal battle accusing Ohio State of failing to protect student athletes from Strauss, who worked at the university from the late 1970s through the 1990s. Plaintiffs say the university ignored warning signs and allowed the alleged abuse to continue unchecked for years. Court filings and prior investigative findings have indicated that Strauss is accused of abusing hundreds of male students and athletes during his tenure. He died in 2005. The latest group of football players joins a broader class action that originally centered on former wrestlers and has steadily expanded across multiple sports programs.
Ohio State’s ongoing legal exposure and settlements
Ohio State has already reached settlement agreements with hundreds of survivors in related cases, totaling more than $60 million in payments, according to court records and university disclosures. More than 300 survivors have reportedly received compensation through settlements, while additional lawsuits remain active in federal court. The university has stated in prior filings and public comments that it has worked to resolve claims through financial settlements as well as counseling and support services for survivors.
Survivors describe delayed reporting due to stigma and pressure
Some plaintiffs have described waiting decades before coming forward, citing shame, fear, and the culture surrounding college athletics at the time. Attorneys involved in the case have said many survivors are only now speaking publicly after years of silence tied to concerns about reputation and retaliation. Several of the former players who joined the lawsuit say they are seeking accountability from both Strauss’s estate and the university for what they allege was a systemic failure to protect student athletes.
Broader implications for college athletics accountability
The case has become one of the most significant and complex sexual abuse lawsuits involving a major U.S. university athletic program. It continues to raise questions about institutional oversight in college sports, especially in high revenue football programs where medical staff had direct and repeated access to athletes. As more former athletes come forward, the litigation is expected to continue expanding, with additional claims still being reviewed in federal court.
