NFL players past and present want more action from owners
PHILADELPHIA — While the NFL fights for racial equality, current and former players want team owners to take more specific actions.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson has a suggestion that has been voiced by many people from players to activists. He wants owners to hire moreBlackcoaches, general managers and high-ranking executives.
There are only six in the NFL: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn, Dolphins coach Brian Flores, Browns GM Andrew Berry, Dolphins GM Chris Grier and Washington President Jason Wright.
“As an employee, it’s hard for me to tell an owner what to do. As a Black person, I would like to see more guys hired that look like me,” Jackson said last month.“I think wehavealeague that 70% of the people whoplay look like me. It wouldbenicefor the upstairs to look like that. I just think something should be done.”
Jaia Thomas, an attorney and founder of Diverse Representation, agrees with Jackson. She praised the NFL’s external efforts with various initiatives but wants the league to take more internal action.
“Blackplayers will continueto be frustrated and feel as though their voices aren’t being heard if there aren’t people in the decision-making rooms who look like them,” Thomassaid.“I think moreshouldbedonetodiversify not just the coaching staff of the NFL ranks but also the owners and all of upper management.”
Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie is one of the most proactive owners in the league along with Miami’s Stephen Ross, Jacksonville’s Shad Khan, Atlanta’s Arthur Blank, Minnesota’s Zygi Wilf and Pittsburgh’s Art Rooney II. Lurie has been outspoken about social justice issues and was critical of the state of race relations in America.
“I’m very close to some of them, andtheysuffer, andthey’re embarrassedbyourcountryand embarrassed and hurt,” Lurie said of fellow owners before the start of the season.
League owners have come a long way since Jerry Jones demanded a few years ago that players on the Dallas Cowboys must stand for the national anthem, and declared his team wouldn’t play if anyone was “disrespectful to the flag.” Now, many owners say they understand that the movement Colin Kaepernick started in 2016 was meant to protest against racism and point out police violence.