Penn State shuts down rumor that Adidas is behind James Franklin’s firing

Somewhere within the fallout of James Franklin’s firing Sunday, a rumor spread that Adidas was behind Penn State’s decision to part ways with its football coach after 12 seasons.

The university — which announced a “transformational” 10-year apparel agreement with Adidas to begin in 2026 last month — denied the report Monday.

“The report is patently false,” Penn State told Front Office Sports. “This decision was made solely by Penn State. Adidas is not helping to pay the buyout for Coach Franklin.”

Penn State’s new partnership with Adidas, reportedly worth $300 million, will replace the school’s decades-long relationship with Nike.

On Saturday, David Kleppinger and Rick Sokolov, the chair and vice chair of the Penn State Board of Trustees, respectively, issued a statement in response to “rumors and misinformation circulating” about the deal between Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and Adidas.

Franklin was fired Sunday, one day after a 22-21 loss to Northwestern at home, and got a $49 million buyout.

It is the second-biggest buyout in college football history after former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher’s $76 million buyout.

Franklin’s contract, which he signed with Penn State in November 2021, includes a clause that calls for him to be diligent and “make a good faith effort” in searching for his next job, according to Front Office Sports.

Franklin’s massive buyout has ruffled some feathers at the university, according to some employees.

”It’s a slap in the face to everyone who was told that their campus is too expensive and not good enough to keep open,” Penn State Fayette librarian Heather Page told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “They want to pay this man. They [don’t] want to pay for the campuses. It’s how they show their values.”

The Fayette campus Page works for is one of seven commonwealth campuses — including the New Kensington and Shenango locations in Western Pennsylvania — that were announced as part of the university’s upcoming closures to cut costs amid enrollment shifts.

Page added that Sunday’s news proves school leaders will “find a way to pay for whatever they want to pay for.”

Franklin, 53, has an overall record of 104-45, tying him for the second-winningest coach in the history of Penn State football.

Associate head coach Terry Smith will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, said Patrick Kraft, vice president for intercollegiate athletics, who will lead the national search for the next head coach.