Chris Partridge’s federal lawsuit has thrown Michigan into yet another messy round of scrutiny, and this time the claims reach well beyond the sign-stealing scandal that already engulfed the program.
Partridge, who coached at Michigan from 2015-19 and served as linebackers coach in 2023, filed a wrongful termination suit against the university after being fired in November of that season. He was accused of destroying evidence tied to the sign-stealing case involving Connor Stalions.
According to reporting from Outkick’s Trey Wallace on Monday, Partridge’s amended complaint says former president Santa Ono and athletic director Warde Manuel knew about the sign-stealing operation “seasons ago,” before the 2023 season, after evidence was found on former assistant Matt Weiss’ computer.
The lawsuit also names Michigan, Manuel, Ono, Tony Petitti, and the UM Board of Regents.
Partridge further alleges that Ono told staff not to report what they found from the sign-stealing investigation to compliance, the NCAA, or anyone else. The evidence, he claims, came from an investigation launched after Michigan hired an outside law firm.
The Weiss piece adds another layer to a situation that was already ugly. Weiss had been fired for “computer hacking crimes,” but the specific details of that dismissal were never made public. Partridge is now alleging Weiss was used as a scapegoat in the broader sign-stealing operation.
And the lawsuit doesn’t stop there.
Partridge also claims Manuel and others knew about Sherrone Moore’s affair with staffer Paige Shiver “for years,” and that it took an unnamed assistant contacting Shiver’s family in December and urging them to come forward before the information became public.
Michigan’s leadership is now facing accusations on multiple fronts, with the lawsuit painting a picture of a program and university office that allegedly knew far more than they let on.
In Other News...
Tigers Fans Just Got The Trade Rumor They Were Dreading
With the trade deadline approaching, the Braves are already signaling they plan to be busy, and general manager Alex Anthopoulos has made it clear Atlanta expects to be in the market. For Tigers fans, that matters because Detroit ace Tarik Skubal has started to surface in the rumor mill as a possible fit for a contender looking to upgrade its rotation for the stretch run.
CBS Sports and USA Today have both linked Skubal to the conversation, with USA Today pointing to the Dodgers, Yankees, Blue Jays and Padres among the other clubs in the mix. Nothing has been confirmed, but any real push for Skubal would be the kind of move that changes the entire tenor of Detroits deadline, both in terms of what the Tigers might be asked to give up and what kind of return they could demand. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Just Sent A Stunning Message On Tarik Skubal's Price
The Tigers are already being viewed as a team to watch at the 2026 trade deadline, and Tarik Skubal sits at the center of that conversation. With the left-hander potentially moving before he reaches free agency, Detroit is in position to ask for a return that matches the value of one of the sports premier arms, which is exactly why rival clubs are paying close attention to how the front office handles the situation.
Scott Harris has made it clear the bar is extremely high, and that alone tells you where this is headed. Even with the deadline still in the distance, the Tigers are signaling they will not move Skubal unless the package is substantial enough to reshape the organization, which leaves the rest of the league wondering whether anyone will actually be willing to meet that price. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Harris May Be Near A Risky Tigers Extension Call
The Reds new deal with Chase Burns is the kind of contract that can make front offices around the league stop and take notice, and it gives a useful reference point for teams trying to lock up young pitching before the price climbs any higher. For the Tigers, it arrives at an interesting moment, with Scott Harris still weighing how aggressively to push his roster-building and how much room he has to maneuver before the offseason.
Troy Melton has given Detroit plenty to think about since coming back from injury, showing the kind of performance that can change the conversation fast. The question is whether the Tigers are willing to act now, with payroll constraints in the background and the possibility of structuring an extension in a way that delays the real financial hit until later. [Read more 🡒]