Stanford football has received a massive financial boost from one of its most loyal alum and former player. Bradford M. Freeman — a Stanford alumnus, former Cardinal football player, and longtime university donor — has pledged a whopping $50 million to the program, marking the largest individual donation in team history not tied to facilities. The school announced the gift on Wednesday, calling it a transformative moment for a program that’s been working to rebuild both on and off the field. Freeman’s donation will directly fund five new football scholarships and expand the university’s NIL infrastructure to better support current and future student-athletes.
Bradford Freeman’s net worth and long history with Stanford Athletics
According to financial disclosures reported by GuruFocus.com, Freeman’s net worth is estimated at $13 million as of 2025, based on SEC filings. He also holds a range of stock positions that likely increase his overall net worth significantly. Freeman’s relationship with Stanford spans decades. A 1964 graduate with a degree in economics, he played football for the Cardinal and has remained one of the school’s most consistent philanthropic supporters. In 1988, he made national headlines by endowing the first head coaching position in college football history. That role is now officially titled the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football.“I remain grateful for the opportunities that my Stanford football scholarship gave me, and for all the ways that the university impacted the trajectory of my life,” Freeman said in a statement, adding, “I hope my gift will herald a new era of excellence for Stanford football and help the university address the new financial demands of competitive college athletics.”
We are positioned to win on the field, says Stanford football general manager Andrew Luck
Stanford football general manager Andrew Luck — the former NFL quarterback who returned to his alma mater in 2024 to oversee football operations — praised Freeman’s gift as a turning point for the program. “With Brad’s incredible gift, we are positioned to win on the field and build a bridge to a sustainable future for Stanford football,” Luck said. He added that the donation will be a difference-maker in attracting and supporting elite student-athletes in today’s college football landscape.“The ability to support our players through new scholarships and institutional NIL will reinforce Stanford as the preeminent place in the country to be a football scholar-athlete,” Luck said. “I believe that Stanford has the opportunity to be a leading program in college football, and we are entirely motivated to field championship-caliber teams.”Also read: Alum and former player Bradford Freeman donates historic $50 million to struggling Stanford football programFreeman’s gift isn’t just a boost to the budget — it’s a signal that Stanford football still has believers, and that its next chapter may already be underway
About the Author
