Coach who got job back after Supreme Court ruled he could pray on field quits, claims retaliation

Joe Kennedy spoke with Fox News Digital just after coaching his first high school football game in eight years. He talked about his book "Average Joe" set to release in Oct. 2023 — and what he hopes readers gain from his First Amendment fight.

Joe Kennedy, a Washington state high school football coach who won his Supreme Court battle last year after fighting for his right to pray on the gridiron, said Wednesday he has resigned from his position after only one game. 

In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital from the First Liberty Institute that included Kennedy's resignation letter, he claims that the Bremerton School District retaliated against him after he was reinstated. 

Former Bremerton High School assistant football coach Joe Kennedy answers questions after his legal case, Kennedy vs. Bremerton School District, was argued before the Supreme Court, April 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images/File)

"[I]t is apparent that the reinstatement ordered by the Supreme Court will not be fully followed after a series of actions meant to diminish my role and single me out in what I can only believe is retaliation by the school district," Kennedy wrote. "Therefore, I am tendering my immediate resignation." 

Kennedy said other reasons factored into his decision to step down from his assistant football coaching position at Bremerton High School, including that he needed to care for an ailing family member out of state. He had been living full-time in Florida, and before the first game last Friday he said he didn't know if he'd continue coaching.

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"I believe I can best continue to advocate for