We recently got our hands on new Nebraska’s GM Patrick Stewart’s 3-year contract with the University of Nebraska. We’ve summarized the Full Terms, Conditions, and Clauses for your convenience:
🧾 Huskers GM Patrick Stewart’s Contract Summary
- Position: General Manager, Football Program
- Employer: University of Nebraska Board of Regents
- Start Date: March 3, 2025
- End Date: Later of last day of the 2027–2028 football season or January 31, 2028 (unless extended)
💵 Patrick Stewart’s Compensation
- Year 1 (2025): $800,000/year
- Year 2 (2026): $850,000/year
- Year 3 (2027): $900,000/year
🎁 Patrick Stewart’s Bonuses
Eligible based on team achievements (percentage of base salary):
- Big Ten Championship Game: 5%
- Bowl Game: 5%
- College Football Playoff: 10%
- National Championship Win: 10%
🚚 Relocation Allowance
- Amount: $25,000 (taxed and reported on W-2)
- Purpose: Relocate Stewart and family to Lincoln, NE
📋 Nebraska General Manager Job Duties
- Reports to Head Coach and Athletic Director
- Cannot engage with boosters unless authorized in writing
- Subject to annual performance reviews
🏃♂️ Resignation Terms
- Must notify and get approval before negotiating with other employers
- Liquidated Damages for Early Resignation:
- By Jan 31, 2026: $800,000
- Feb 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027: $850,000
- After Jan 31, 2027: $0
- Exception: No penalty if leaving for NFL General Manager job
🤝 Post-Termination Obligations
- Non-Compete Clause: Cannot interfere with Athletics operations
- Non-Disparagement Clause: No negative statements about the University
✅ If Patrick Stewart is Fired Without Cause
- He is entitled to receive the remainder of his salary for the full contract term (through January 31, 2028) — but with important conditions:
🔍 Key Terms:
- The University must continue to pay his monthly salary until the end of the contract term.
- Payments are offset by any income he earns from new employment.
- If he gets a new job that pays less, Nebraska pays the difference.
- If he earns equal or more in his new role, Nebraska owes him nothing more.
- He must:
- Use “best efforts” to find comparable employment quickly.
- Disclose all compensation details from any new job.
- Not structure new job pay to avoid offsetting the university’s obligation.
❌ If Patrick Stewart is Fired For Cause
- No, he does not get paid the remainder of the contract.
- He forfeits:
- Any unpaid salary
- Any accrued but unused vacation/holidays
- Any bonus payments
- He may only receive:
- Final paycheck for work already done
- Vested retirement benefits
Grounds for “Cause” include:
- Violations of NCAA/University rules
- Dishonest/unethical conduct
- Criminal activity
- Betting on sports
- Substance abuse while on duty
- Insubordination
- Poor performance not corrected within 60 days
My Takeaways :
Patrick Stewart cannot engage with boosters unless he has written permission.
This indicates he’ll be focused solely on football operations—not fundraising or donor relations.
There’s no penalty if he takes an NFL General Manager position.
Let’s be honest: if Patrick Stewart makes the leap from this role to the NFL, it likely means Nebraska experienced significant success.
Although it’s a three-year contract, he’s free to leave after Year 2 without financial penalty.
Starting February 1, 2027, Stewart can resign without owing any buyout to the University.