JaMarcus Russell is facing a lawsuit accusing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft of accepting money intended for the football program at Williamson High School, his alma mater.
According to WKRGRussell accepted a $74,000 check from Chris Knowles, a local businessman, that was purported to be a donation to help the football program purchase gym equipment. The money was allegedly never delivered to the school and the former Raiders quarterback reportedly deposited the check at a credit union and then withdrew $55,000.
Knowles, a lifelong LSU fan, says Russell approached him in the summer of 2022 to make a donation to help Williamson’s football team purchase weight room equipment. After issuing the $74,000 check to Russell, Knowles said he then stopped paying the check when Russell did not provide him with a receipt for the donation and stopped returning his phone calls.
Navigator Credit Union is suing Russell for nearly $55,000 of the check, which was paid to him on the same day he deposited it. The lawsuit was filed in March 2023 and says the credit union “loaned” the money to Russell at his request.
In November 2023, Russell filed a countersuit against Knowles for stopping payment of the check. Russell admitted to depositing the money, but does not claim any wrongdoing.
The trial is scheduled to begin in October.
Russell joined the Williamson football team’s coaching staff in 2018 and was removed as a volunteer assistant last fall.
Mobile County Public Schools cited only personnel issues as the reason for removing Russell and did not confirm whether the lawsuit led to the decision.
MCPS said in a Statement to WKRG that Russell is not allowed to be near the team or on school campus.
Russell, 38, started 25 games for the Raiders over three seasons after being drafted in 2007.
