Former OU quarterback Charles Thompson reaches settlement with Oklahoma City

Thompson said he filed the lawsuit to protect a public image he has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate after a much-publicized downfall during his time as a Sooner.

Thompson won fame by helping the Sooners to an 11-1 season as starting quarterback in his freshman year in 1987. He gained infamy in 1989 when he was arrested by the FBI and later pleaded guilty to dealing cocaine while a member of the football team.

He served two years in prison and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in handcuffs wearing prison orange.

After prison, Thompson began speaking to numerous groups about the dangers of drugs and said he became a rededicated Christian. He has since become a motivational speaker and runs a youth football program, preaching to young people not to fall into the same traps that brought him down.

It was his work with the youth football program that led to the confrontation with Oklahoma City police in 2006.

Thompson and a group of parents were in a room at the Residence Inn, 4361 W Reno Ave., on Nov. 18, painting signs for the teams playing in a televised game the next day.