Who Is Joseph Kennedy? Supreme Court Football Coach Prayer and Kneeling Case Hearings and Verdict

Joseph Kennedy was a former football assistant coach at Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington. In 2008, Kennedy became a member of the Bremerton High School football coaching staff. 

For years, former high school football coach Joseph Kennedy would kneel at the center of the field after games and lead students in prayer. The school district eventually asked him to stop.

Now, Kennedy's case is going before the U.S. Supreme Court.

— The Associated Press

Kennedy began praying at the 50-yard line after each football game after being inspired by the film Facing the Giants.

He continued to pray on the field for seven years without incident.

However, in September 2015, an opponent coach informed Bremerton High School's administrator that Kennedy had invited his players to join him for the post-game prayer.

The school system then initiated an investigation to see if Kennedy was abiding by the school board's policy on religious activities and practices.

Kennedy was then suspended indefinitely as an assistant coach for disobeying the district's directive by continuing to pray at midfield following games.

Kennedy declined to reapply for his position and, in August 2016, filed a federal lawsuit against the school system, alleging that it had violated his First Amendment rights.

Also Read: Who Are Bailey Zappe's Parents? Meet His Father Michael & Mother Sammie Zappe

A teacher who reads the Bible aloud before the bell rings, and a coach who crosses himself before a game.

On April 25, Supreme Court justices debated all of these hypothetical circumstances while hearing arguments in the case of Joseph Kennedy, a former public high school football coach from Washington state who wanted to kneel and pray on the field after games.

The Supreme Court is being asked to decide if Joseph Kennedy's midfield prayers were government speech or if they deserve First Amendment protection.

— USA TODAY

The judges were debating how to strike a balance between instructors' and coaches' religious and free speech rights and students' right not to be pressured into religious activities.

The court's conservative majority appeared sympathetic to the coach, while the court's three liberals appeared doubtful.

The outcome may help to increase acceptance of various religious practices in public schools.

Despite being scheduled for only one hour, arguments at the Supreme Court lasted nearly two hours.

Tim Tebow, a former NFL player who was known for bowing in prayer on the field, and Mohamed Salah, an Egyptian soccer sensation who kneels and touches his forehead to the ground after a goal, were both mentioned.

Joseph Kennedy is a Christian. Joseph Kennedy is a Christian who began his coaching career in 2008 as an assistant football coach at Bremerton High School, a public high school in the Seattle area.

In terms of his family, he hasn't revealed any information about them in the public. He appears to be a private individual who prefers to have a low public presence.

His family, on the other hand, appears to be supportive He would not be where he is now if his family had not been there to assist him.

A person's success is frequently fueled by a supportive family that encourages them to achieve their goals.

Also Read: Who Is Neil Robertson's Wife, Mille Fjelldal? All We Know About His Love Life