I woke up the other day with a thought buzzing in my head: Are there any black NFL owners? I was curious to know why this important position was so severely underrepresented while other positions in the league are predominantly held by white people. So, I decided to do some research and share my findings with you.
When it comes to the NFL, the majority of the league’s ownerships is white. According to a 2014 analysis, there were 17 black primary owners, meaning those who own at least 30 percent of the team, and 32 white primary owners. This isn’t a new phenomenon either, as the NFL has been predominantly led by white owners long before 2014. In fact, in 1983, there were zero black primary owners.
As a result of the overwhelming number of white-owned teams, it’s not surprising that the NFL has been charged with racial discrimination in the past. From the lack of proper hiring practices to the outright refusal to sign black players, it’s quite evident that the league has an issue when it comes to the inclusion of the African-American community.
What disturbs me the most about this issue is the opportunities that the NFL has missed over the years due to their lack of African-American leadership. For example, several African-American businessmen—from Michael Jordan to Oprah Winfrey—have expressed interest in purchasing a team in the past, but they ultimately decided not to due to the lack of diversity within the league’s ownership. This is a true shame as these individuals possess the potential to go beyond merely leading a team, but to become cultural ambassadors for the NFL.
It further astonishes me that in this day and age, when opportunities for minorities are increasingly available, the NFL—one of the most popular sports leagues in America—is still predominantly owned by whites. The league as a whole must come together and take the necessary steps to change this deeply rooted issue.
It is important for the NFL to make a larger effort to recruit African-American owners. It can start with eliminating the barriers to ownership and encouraging African-American investors and entrepreneurs to take the helm of a team. Also, the league should prioritize diversity when deciding who to enter into its hall of ownership. Instead of focusing solely on the financials of the prospective owners, the NFL should take into consideration other factors such as race, gender, and ethnicity.
Furthermore, the NFL should set an example for other sports leagues and organizations by actively creating and implementing policies that are geared towards promoting cultural acceptance and diversity. It is only by doing so that the league and its members can truly begin making progress.
Finally, the NFL should actively seek out African-American contributors and entertainers as brand ambassadors for the league. Role models such as LeBron James, Jay Z, and Nas—who have proven themselves to be incredibly successful—can help to spread the vision of an inclusive and welcoming NFL.
Given all the measures that the NFL can take, I am still hopeful that African-Americans will someday play an integral role in the ownership of the league. Perhaps through these steps, the NFL will finally be able to have an inclusive ownership that reflects the true diversity of its fan base.