In his defense, the coach’s prayers were brief, lasting less than a minute, and he emphasized that they were private individual acts of faith. Nevertheless, he maintained this practice for seven years as part of his routine ritual.
For Kennedy, it was a personal commitment to offer a prayer to God after every game, regardless of the outcome. “It was my covenant between me and God that after every game, win or lose, I’m going to do it right there on the field of battle,” he explained to ABC News.
Kennedy also stressed the importance of religious freedom, asserting that everyone has the right to exercise their religion, regardless of their beliefs or lack thereof. “This is a right for everybody. It doesn’t matter if you’re this religion or that religion or have no faith whatsoever,” he affirmed. “Everybody has the same rights in America.”
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in his favor, citing First Amendment protections for free speech and the free exercise of religion. Justice Neil Gorsuch emphasized the importance of mutual respect and tolerance for religious and nonreligious views.
“This is just so awesome,” Kennedy remarked upon hearing the decision. “All I’ve ever wanted was to be back on the field with my guys.”
As part of the ruling, Kennedy was awarded a $1.7 million settlement and reinstated to his coaching position for the spring season of 2023.
Kennedy reiterated that he only wished to pray alone but welcomed students to join him freely if they chose to do so