James Franklin has been having an emotional few days.
On October 12, Penn State fired Franklin as its head coach.
Before his termination, Franklin and his team suffered "back-to-back embarrassing losses to UCLA and Northwestern at home," leading to fan pressure to oust him, Sports Illustrated reported.
However, through it all, he has had the support of his family, including his daughters with wife, Fumi Franklin. Franklin, 53, has a buyout of more than $56 million, according to SI. He also has a well-known tight relationship with his wife and kids, who have frequently been seen in emotional moments with him at games.
Town & Gown described how Franklin brought a family atmosphere to Penn State. "It is all part of the family atmosphere that James Franklin has built in the program. The sense of family extends to the community, as the coach focuses on the type of students and people he is leading, as much as the wins and losses," the site wrote.
James and Fumi Franklin have two daughters named Addy and Shola.
After the Northwestern loss, a "sad-looking" Franklin "lingered on the field at Beaver Stadium," SI reported.
Then, he "shared emotional hugs with his daughters Shola and Addison," which is a ritual he's known for, according to SI, which added that they also have a pre-game ritual of holding hands as they run around the stadium.
Franklin and his daughters have gone viral before. Earlier in 2025, he consoled Addison after she broke down following another loss, according to The New York Post.
The coach "held Addison while she cried in his arms," the Post wrote, a scene that was also captured in a video that circulated around social media.
A photo published by Penn Live shows James Franklin with his two daughters when they were younger.
Franklin also has an affectionate rapport with his wife, Fumi.
"Penn State head coach James Franklin get a good luck kiss from his wife, Fumi as the team arrives at Beaver Stadium for their game agains," reads the caption on a September video shared by PSU Football Sunday.