Praying Bremerton coach will be back on the field in 2023

The Bremerton High School football coach whose religious freedom case was upheld by the United States Supreme Court could be back on the sidelines by March 2023.

Attorneys for Joe Kennedy and the school district agreed in court to reinstate the former assistant coach, according to NPR. The court also ordered the district to not interfere with or prohibit Kennedy from offering a prayer. It is not clear yet how exactly his post-game prayers will resume.

Both sides have been ordered to submit their wording for the final order by Nov. 8. There is also the issue of paying for Kennedy's legal costs over the past six years. Kennedy has the option to request the district pay for them.

The Bremerton School District raised concerns over Kennedy in 2015 after hearing about post-game prayers he was conducting on the football field. Players would join the public employee on the field, and some told officials they felt pressured to join in, despite their differing views, in order to gain favor with the coach, and in turn, playing time in the game. The district attempted to make accommodations, but Kennedy ultimately resigned from the job (he was not fired) and took the matter to court.

Courts sided with the district all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided earlier this year that Kennedy should be allowed to pray on the 50 yard line.