The NFL’s attempts to protect Commissioner Roger Goodell from tough questions about the lack of diversity within NFL Media have backfired. Despite moving the Commissioner’s annual Super Bowl press conference to Monday and making it invite-only, Black journalists still managed to press Goodell about the company’s lack of diversity. The NFL Media newsroom currently employs zero Black managers, zero Black copy editors, and zero full-time Black employees on the news desk. The only full-time Black employee recently passed away. This lack of diversity in a company that covers a majority Black league is unacceptable.
Darren Smith of KLKC Radio asked Goodell about this issue during the press conference, following in the footsteps of former journalist Jim Trotter who had asked the same question for the past two years. Trotter’s contract was not renewed by NFL Media, and in response, he filed a racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the league. Goodell claimed that progress has been made, citing that 51% of employees across the league, network, and media platforms are either people of color or women. However, this response fails to address the specific issue of Black representation.
The fact that Goodell responded by grouping everyone who isn’t a white man into one category demonstrates a lack of understanding and a failure to address the specific concerns raised. This issue is about Black representation, not just minorities in general. Goodell’s response shows a lack of care or willingness to acknowledge the problem.
Smith’s actions in pressing Goodell on this issue during the press conference were significant. It is crucial to have individuals outside of the NFL Media Group who cannot have their contracts terminated, challenging Goodell on these issues. If Smith is not invited back to future press conferences, it will be a clear indication of the NFL’s unwillingness to address the problem.
The rest of the week will see the NFL hosting various official events, many of which seem to be attempts to check a box on the diversity quota. For example, the league is hosting its third annual “Pride Night” despite its history of mishandling gay players and not currently having an openly gay player on a roster. The NFL needs to understand that true diversity cannot be achieved through token gestures; it requires genuine commitment and action.
The NFL’s tendency to make things harder for itself is evident in its handling of various issues. The press conference was filled with questions about gambling and sports betting, topics the league was once staunchly against until laws changed and money started pouring in. Goodell’s incompetence on stage during the press conference for the third year in a row reflects the league’s failure to be accountable.
As long as Goodell and the NFL continue to avoid accountability, Black journalists will keep exposing them for the world to see. The NFL needs to recognize the importance of diversity and take meaningful steps towards rectifying the lack of representation within NFL Media. It is time for the league to stop faking diversity and start embracing it wholeheartedly.
