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Former Michigan assistant Chris Partridge blasts media, Michigan after NCAA exoneration

by: Alex Byington08/15/25_AlexByington
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Michael Allio-USA TODAY Sports

Former Michigan football assistant coach Chris Partridge, who was fired in 2023 after allegedly participating in destroying evidence related to the infamous sign-stealing scandal, released a statement Thursday afternoon praising the NCAA Infractions Committee for its “thorough investigation.”

The NCAA Infractions Committee released its findings from its nearly two-year-long investigation into the scheme perpetrated by former Michigan staffer Conner Stalions earlier Tuesday and levied several punishments against multiple current and ex-Wolverines coaches, none of which included Partridge.

“I am extremely grateful for the thorough investigation done by the NCAA Infractions Committee. For almost two years, I sat silently while many members of the mainstream media told lies about me and why I was wrongfully terminated by the University of Michigan,” Partridge’s statement read. “It means so much to me and my family to finally have my name cleared and reputation restored. My faith in the process never wavered, and through it all, I stayed true to who I am as a person and mentor. I remained steadfast in my passion for being part of a team and being lockstep with my fellow coaches to provide guidance to young men as they navigate the great sport of football. Much love to all the coaches and players from Team 144! — Chris Partridge”

Partridge, who is entering his second season as the Seattle Seahawks‘ outside linebackers coach, was cited with a single NCAA violation for “engaging in Level II impermissible text contacts with a high school prospect” in the NCAA report released Friday. Despite that, Partridge was effectively exonerated for any involvement in the sign-stealing scandal after the COI panel declined four mitigating factor violations, including for “intentional, willful or blatant disregard for NCAA bylaws” because Partridge acknowledged his error in the recruiting violation and fully cooperated with the NCAA in its investigation.

As part of its detailed “case history” portion of the 74-page report released Friday, the NCAA COI revealed Partridge’s involvement in helping Stalions gain employment at Michigan, where he served as a defensive analyst directly under Partridge after years of volunteering with the program. It also details how Partridge “initially withheld roughly 7,000 communications, including 58 text messages with Stalions,” though those issues were later resolved following coordination from his legal counsel. Partridge’s name is listed a total of 138 times in the report, though most are related to the Level II recruiting violation.

Partridge previously worked at Michigan from 2015-2019 in multiple roles, including director of player personnel and special teams coordinator, as well as a position coach. After leaving to take the co-defensive coordinator position at Ole Miss between 2020-22, Partridge returned to Michigan as its linebackers coach for the 2023 season before being fired Nov. 17, 2023, due to his alleged role in Stalions’ sign-stealing scandal. Partridge previously rejected any implication of his involvement in Stalions’ scheme and admonished Michigan’s termination letter citing his firing was related to discussing the “ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone associated with the Michigan Football Program.”

NCAA makes ruling on Michigan after Committee of Infractions meeting

The NCAA levied significant financial penalties and multiple show-case orders as part of its COI punishments handed out Friday morning. Michigan’s financial fines could reach as high as $35 million, including approximately $27 million combined in recouped postseason revenue over the next two years — roughly $6 million in 2025 and $21 million in 2026 — and approximately $7.2 million or 10-percent of the program’s football budget, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

The NCAA also dropped show-cause orders for several current and former Michigan staff members, including a two-year show-cause for second-year Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore, who will also be suspended for the 2026 season-opener in addition to the self-imposed two-game suspension he’s set to serve in the third and fourth games of the 2025 season.

Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who is entering his second year as the Los Angeles Chargers head coach, received an unprecedented 10-year show-cause penalty, while Stalions — the architect of the illegal sign-stealing scheme — received an eight-year show-cause that would require NCAA permission for any college to hire him during that period. Ex-Michigan assistant and alum Denard Robinson also received a three-year show-cause order.