Alumnus Donates $50M to Revive Stanford Football's Fortunes

On October 8th, 2025, Stanford University announced that it has received a substantial $50 million gift from former player Bradford Freeman, a 1964 graduate who has remained deeply involved with the institution over the years.

The generous donation is set to provide a much-needed boost for Stanford's football program, which has struggled in recent seasons, finishing 3-9 in each of the past four years. The funds will cover five new football scholarships and help with name, image and likeness (NIL) payments, reinforcing Stanford's position as a premier destination for football scholar-athletes.

"With Brad's incredible gift, we are positioned to win on the field and build a bridge to a sustainable future for Stanford football," said general manager Andrew Luck. The university's president, Jonathan Levin, echoed these sentiments, stating that the donation will "help us to recruit top talent and compete at the highest level" while also benefiting the entire athletics department.

Freeman, who co-founded the private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co. in 1983, has a long history of supporting Stanford. In 1988, he endowed the head football coaching position, and in 2005, he and fellow alumnus Ron Spogli jointly committed $50 million to establish the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

This latest $50 million gift is expected to be a game-changer for Stanford football as the program seeks to turn its fortunes around under interim coach Frank Reich, who took over this season.