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Roger Goodell Announces Decision On NFL's Commitment To Diversity

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Apr 6, 2025 7:51 PM ET

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been quite clear about the league's intentions regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

DEI has been a major topic of conversation for months now. President Donald Trump made anti-DEI rhetoric and policies a major part of his 2024 campaign and has continued to hammer away during his first couple of months in office. Various companies and major corporations have announced rollbacks of DEI policies since Trump returned to the White House, but the NFL is not following suit.

During last week's owners meetings, Goodell reaffirmed the league's commitment to diversity during a conversation with Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal.

"I’ve been very clear that we think diversity makes us better," Goodell told Fischer. "I think a lot of our policies are designed to give opportunities and develop that talent. A lot of our programs are designed in that way, and we’re fully committed to continuing that work to try to develop better talent and give them that opportunity and make the NFL better, ultimately.

"So, we’re all in on that and, obviously, we’re going to be fully compliant with federal laws. We always have been, and we’ll continue to do that.”

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 03: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a press conference ahead of the Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 03, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Robert Kraft, Clark Hunt and other owners are also quoted in Fischer's piece echoing Goodell's stance.

Overall, Goodell's comments are almost identical to the ones he made on this topic before Super Bowl 59 and back in December.

Now, just because the league has expressed its commitment to diversity doesn't mean its actual efforts to follow through on that pledge won't be questioned.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 11: (L-R) Woody Johnson, Josh Harris and Roger Goodell attend the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

In recent years, we've seen the league draw criticism regarding the Rooney Rule and the way teams have seemingly skirted its intent in order to hire white candidates they were targeting all along.

An Associated Press survey last year spoke with 65 Black players around the league, with 36% of them saying they were unhappy with the number of Black coaches. It's not just head coaches either; the lack of Black NFL offensive coordinators has also come under scrutiny.

Nevertheless, the league is at least continuing to promote diversity publicly, even if some politicians or other leaders are doing the opposite.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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