On Oct. 5, 2015—six years, eight months, and 19 days ago—my firm, First Liberty Institute, agreed to represent high school football coach Joe Kennedy. This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court finally decided his case, granting Kennedy his only desire—to be able to kneel in quiet, personal prayer at the 50-yard line after the games he coached.
Perhaps by now, you know the story. Before coaching his first game in 2008, Kennedy committed to God that he would give thanks after each game—win or lose—for the opportunity to be a football coach and for his players. His inspiration was the movie Facing the Giants. For seven years, after each game, he walked to the center of the field, knelt, and offered a brief prayer of thanks.
When his players noticed, some voluntarily asked to join him. His response was simple: “It’s a free country.”
