Diverse Representation is on a mission, and this week that mission heads to Las Vegas to Blacken up Sin City.
Later today at a special luncheon sponsored by Goldman Sachs, Diverse Representation, in partnership with Minorities in Sports, will honor Washington Commanders President Jason Wright, the first Black team president hired in the NFL, and former Big 10 Commissioner/current President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, Kevin Warren.
“The 2023-2024 NFL season is the first season in NFL history to boast five Black team presidents. We’re excited to celebrate their accomplishments and the numerous ways in which they’ve opened opportunities for greater diversity in the league,” said Jaia Thomas, Esq.,
founder and CEO of Diverse Representation.
While the NFL has had trouble hiring Black head coaches over the last few years, hiring for the executive suite faired slightly better as there are now five Black team presidents.
Wright and Warren are joined by Sashi Brown (Baltimore Ravens), Damani Leech (Denver Broncos) and Sandra Douglass Morgan (Las Vegas Raiders), the latter becoming the first Black woman team president in league history.
This offseason, teams finally changed their ways and now six Black head coaches will take the field this upcoming season. Mike Tomlin (Steelers), DeMeco Ryans (Texas) and Todd Bowles (Bucs) will be joined by new head coaches Jerod Mayo (Patriots), Antonio Pierce (Raiders) and Raheem Morris (Falcons).
This means that the NFL was two hires short of breaking the record of seven Black coaches being employed in a single season (’06, ’17, ’18).
These accomplishments are what groups like Diverse Representation and Minorities in Sports are pushing hard to achieve. Hopefully, through their efforts, the number of Black presidents and head coaches will continue to increase.
One day we might even see a Black majority team owner in the NFL.
Through the efforts of Jaia and her organization, whose mission is to “increase the hiring and exposure of Black agents, attorneys, managers, and publicists in the sports and entertainment industries,” history will continue to be made as doors continue to be opened.
