N.Y., Calif. Announce NFL Workplace Discrimination Probe

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday announced a joint investigation into the workplace culture of the National Football League (NFL) related to several accusations of racial discrimination and sexual harassment.1
  • The two Democratic Attorneys General issued subpoenas Thursday and made statements in which Bonta expressed concern about “an extremely hostile and detrimental work environment” at the NFL, and James vowed to hold the NFL “accountable.”2
  • James and Bonta cited a 2022 New York Times article alleging discrimination and retaliation for human resources complaints at the NFL. The prosecutors also pointed to several recent lawsuits accusing the NFL of making retaliatory firings, and racial discrimination and sexual harassment suits filed by employees.3
  • James led a coalition of six state attorneys general last year, who wrote a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking the league to tackle the gender-based discrimination charges it was facing. Goodell’s written response touted the league’s achievements in creating a diverse workplace free of discrimination.4
  • James and Bonta also cited the well-documented history of workplace complaints made against the Washington Commanders franchise when detailing reasons for their investigation.5
  • The NFL responded in a statement, saying it would cooperate with the investigation even though it finds the allegations "entirely inconsistent with the NFL's values and practices."6

Sources: 1Associated Press, 2Reuters, 3Al Jazeera, 4Wall Street Journal, 5USA Today, and 6NPR Online News.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Forbes. The NFL is doing all it can to prevent discrimination and harassment while ensuring that its workforce is as diverse as possible. It expanded the so-called Rooney Rule — the requirement that teams interview at least one minority candidate for head coach openings — to require the interviewing of at least one woman for open executive slots. There are women referees and coaches, and 41.3% of the league’s front office staff is female. Progress is being made and there is no need for government intervention.
  • Narrative B, as provided by New York Times. A little bit of progress in the NFL’s attempt to diversify doesn’t mean the league has eliminated all forms of discrimination and harassment, and there should be a zero-tolerance policy. The league is still facing accusations of “pervasive sexism” at a workplace that operates with a “boys’ club mentality,” in addition to a multitude of lawsuits. If there’s smoke, there must be fire, so these attorneys general have to dig into what’s really going on.
  • Cynical narrative, as provided by Deadspin. Considering the raft of lawsuits and investigations the NFL has faced in recent years, it’s no surprise there’s another one coming down the pipe. Of course, just as the previous probes did nothing to lessen the league’s popularity, this investigation probably won’t affect anyone’s opinion of the NFL. The league machine will continue to operate with impunity as long as the American people pump billions of dollars into it.