Washington make Wright the first black president in NFL history
The Washington Football Team has hired Jason Wright as team president, making him the first black person to hold that position in NFL history.
At 38, he becomes the NFL’S youngest team president and will run the organisation’s business operations, with coach Ron Rivera maintaining control over football decisions.
Washington’s hiring of Wright drew a commendation from the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which seeks to promote diversity in NFL. Chairman Harry Carson and executive director Rod Graves called it a “historic event”.
“The selection is the result of an inclusive process that recognises the talents that people of colour can offer,” they said. “We hope that it signifies a true change for the manner in which leadership is chosen in the NFL.”
Until now, Kevin Warren had been the highest-ranking black business-side executive in the NFL. The Minnesota
Vikings promoted Warren to chief operating officer in 2015, and he held that post for four years until leaving to become the Big Ten commissioner.
Wright, a running back for seven years with Atlanta, Cleveland and Arizona, was a captain for the Cardinals and their NFLPA representative during labour negotiations in 2010-11.
“If I could custom design a leader for this important time in our history, it would be Jason,” owner Dan Snyder said. “His experience as a former player, coupled with his business acumen, gives him a perspective that is unrivalled in the league.”
The hiring is another significant change for Snyder, who has in the past nine months fired president and longtime confidant Bruce Allen after another losing season, hired Rivera, revamped the front office and medical staffs, bowed to pressure to drop the name “Redskins” and been forced to confront allegations of sexual harassment by members of the organisation from former employees.
As part of the national debate over racism following George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minnesota, Rivera also launched internal initiatives aimed at educating players and staff and allowing minorities’ voices to be heard. Wright seems to fit into that, as well.
“Jason has a proven track record in helping businesses transform culturally, operationally and financially,” Snyder said.
“He is a proactive and assertive advocate for inclusion of all people and will set new standards for our organisation, and for the league.”