Following the 2020 season, Pat Fitzgerald had just led his team to a Big Ten West title, a Citrus Bowl victory, and NU’s first top 10 ranking in the Associated Press poll since he played for the Wildcats in 1996. After the season, Fitz was rewarded with a 10-year, eight-figure contract by the university.
In that moment, it appeared clear: Fitzgerald was invincible at the helm of the program. It did not matter what the record on the field was, Fitz’s seat never even reached lukewarm; now, less than three years into his new deal, the longtime face of Northwestern has been fired, and he has no one to blame but himself.