State Approves $3.5M Settlement With Family Of Jordan McNair
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved a $3.5 million settlement with the family of Jordan McNair, a former Terrapins football player who died from a heatstroke in May 2018.
The approval came after the University of Maryland agreed to the settlement earlier this month.
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"This has been a painful fight, a very emotional fight," Marty McNair, Jordan McNair's father, said.
"This victory today shows a lot of people that, guess what? It can be done. If there's a wrong to their child or a loss of their child due to negligence along the way, it is possible to get a victory," he added.
During a team workout in May 2018, McNair died after collapsing from heatstroke.
An independent medical report found several issues with his treatment, including failure to assess his vital signs and not having the proper cooling devices.
His death sparked outrage that spread far beyond the College Park campus.
"No parent should ever have to experience the unspeakable agony that Tonya Wilson and Martin McNair have been through," Gov. Larry Hogan said.
"All of this took far too long, but it has led to a set of systematic reforms, which I signed into law last year," the governor added.
As Jordan McNair's parents turn the page, they say they're committed to building his legacy by raising awareness of heat-related illnesses in student-athletes so no other family has to experience their pain.
"I miss him every day, but yes, today is bigger than any NFL contract he would have had," Tonya Wilson, Jordan McNair's mother, said.
The university announced a number of new initiatives to remember McNair and improve student-athletes' health and well-being. One of the programs will focus on heatstroke, concussions, nutrition and mental health among athletes.
