Federal Way, WA – The Todd Beamer High School football team has canceled the remainder of its full league varsity schedule, a decision made public on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The move comes after an evaluation of player physical health and safety concerns, as well as a limited roster.
Head Coach Rodney McCurry confirmed the decision, stating the district and school opted to discontinue the remaining 3A football games in favor of a custom schedule. This decision was a collective effort involving Coach McCurry, Todd Beamer athletic director Amber Plummer, and Federal Way Director of Equity and Athletics John Yellam.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Jessica Morgan, Chief of Communications and Strategy for the Federal Way School District, underscored the rationale. “Over the past week, due to the overall physical health of the team, we have carefully evaluated options to best support the Todd Beamer High School football program. After careful consideration and leading with the lens of player health and safety, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue our varsity schedule for the remainder of the season.” The district noted that all remaining Todd Beamer varsity home contests would be canceled, with exploration into opportunities for junior varsity competition for the rest of the season.
Earlier in the season, Coach McCurry had been suspended for five games, only to be reinstated on September 30 after two weeks away. His suspension was overturned due to an error in the Final Forms eligibility system. McCurry provided evidence of these errors, which he said impacted player clearance. He expressed regret that earlier conversations in August might have prevented the current situation.
The Titans scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the season against Auburn Mountainview on September 3, but have not scored since. In weeks 2-4, the team was outscored 147-0 by Thomas Jefferson, Kent-Meridian, and Decatur.
McCurry explained that the team’s current roster includes only two seniors with varsity experience, with the majority being freshmen and sophomores. The team has also faced significant injuries. The plan now involves playing lower-classified varsity teams in the 1A and 2A categories, or high-level junior varsity programs. McCurry hopes to find games, potentially traveling for a varsity contest during a bye week or in week nine.
The coach emphasized that player safety is paramount under his leadership. He also highlighted ongoing discussions about the broader state of Todd Beamer athletics, advocating for a reevaluation of the school’s classification. According to the WIAA, Todd Beamer has an adjusted enrollment of 823.57, making it one of the public schools with less enrollment playing at the 3A level, with only Rainier Beach having fewer students in that classification.
Federal Way Public Schools chose to keep all Federal Way high schools at the 3A level in 2024, opting Todd Beamer into the classification rather than allowing it to play in 2A. McCurry questioned the equity of this decision, particularly given that Todd Beamer High School lacks sub-varsity level teams across many sports, with boys' basketball being a notable exception with JV and C-teams. He mentioned that students from feeder middle schools, Illahee and Sequoyah, often opt to attend different high schools, leading to difficulties in recruiting and clearing athletes for practices.
McCurry noted restrictions on coaches recruiting middle school students, limiting interactions to a single open house-style event annually. He also provided roster comparisons, stating Todd Beamer has 36 players, while Federal Way has over 80, Decatur 43, and Thomas Jefferson 45, indicating what he perceives as an inequity from a football perspective. He expressed hope that this situation would prompt serious consideration of these issues.
Despite the challenges, McCurry affirmed his commitment to the Todd Beamer program, expressing belief in the positive impact sports have on the community and students’ futures. He conveyed that the team’s morale remains strong, looking forward to future competitions.
