Washington Sr. said fear of stigma and retaliation toward his family delayed his decision to speak out, noting his son was an OSU assistant coach when related lawsuits emerged.

In a release, Al Washington discussed reluctance to come forward due to stigma around male-on-male abuse and fears of retaliation, noting his son has held coaching roles at OSU and in the NFL.

Washington Sr. said he was inspired to speak after watching the HBO documentary Surviving Ohio State and issued a statement on behalf of the plaintiffs.

Al Washington described the abuse as unlawful physical exams by Strauss when he was 18 or 19, recalling the emotional difficulty of revisiting the trauma.

Washington noted the renewed impact after watching the 2025 documentary, emphasizing the pain of discussing the abuse and the long silence surrounding it.

Victims describe unlawful exams by Strauss at ages 18 or 19 and the lasting emotional effects of years of silence.

A 2019 independent Perkins Coie investigation found Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male athletes and students, with coaches and administrators aware for two decades without effective action.

The university has settled with 317 survivors for more than $61 million as of mid-April, while five active lawsuits remain in the Southern District of Ohio involving 236 men.

Related coverage, including a 2025 documentary, is cited to illustrate the ongoing public and personal impact of the Strauss case.

The decision to come forward came after years of secrecy and fear, with plaintiffs saying public testimony helps address the shame of male-to-male abuse.

Thirty former Ohio State University players, including NFL veterans Al Washington, Ray Ellis, and Keith Ferguson, have joined a federal class-action lawsuit accusing OSU over sexual abuse by former team doctor Richard Strauss.

OSU says it is continuing reconciliation efforts with survivors through settlements, counseling, medical treatment, and ongoing mediation with affected parties.