Russell, who was working as a volunteer coaching assistant at his high school alma mater, Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama, was relieved of his duties last year due to a donation controversy, according to court documents.

The controversy stemmed from a $74,000 check that was intended as a donation to the school. The check, written by Chris Knowles of Selwonk Enterprises, a local building company, was approached by Russell for the donation, with the promise that the funds would be used to purchase weight-room equipment for the school. However, Russell failed to provide a receipt for the donation and stopped returning Knowles' calls.

In July 2022, Russell deposited and cashed the $74,000 check at Navigator Credit Union. The credit union has since sued Russell for $55,000, claiming that the amount was "lent" to Russell. Russell, on the other hand, filed a counterclaim against Knowles for stopping payment on the check. While Russell admitted to depositing the check, he denied any wrongdoing, as stated in court documents.

The fallout from the donation controversy ultimately led to Russell's removal as a volunteer coaching assistant at Williamson High School. Mobile County Public School officials confirmed that Russell was relieved of his duties during the fall of last year.

JaMarcus Russell's NFL career was marked by disappointment and underperformance. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Russell struggled as a starting quarterback, accumulating a record of 7-18 with a completion percentage of just 52.1%. He threw 18 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions, making him one of the worst No. 1 draft picks in history.

In addition to his on-field struggles, Russell has faced difficulties off the field. In 2010, he was arrested for possession of codeine syrup without a valid prescription, although he was not indicted on the charge. Russell later revealed in an interview with ESPN that he had tested positive for codeine after being drafted by the Raiders.

Despite these setbacks, Russell had sought redemption by giving back to his alma mater through volunteer coaching. However, the donation controversy has now tarnished his reputation at Williamson High School.

As the legal battle unfolds between Russell, Knowles, and Navigator Credit Union, the former NFL quarterback's post-NFL life continues to be plagued by controversy and challenges. Russell's attorney has declined to comment on the ongoing case.