[quote] Los Angeles Chargers Elevating JoJo Wooden Gives NFL Record Number of Black General Managers
Document Type
News Article
Publication Date
12-19-2023
Abstract
With regard to the position of general manager, the league is in a good place these days, according to N. Jeremi Duru.
A professor of sports law at American University, Duru authored the definitive book on the creation of the Rooney Rule, Advancing The Ball: Race, Reformation, and the Quest for Equal Coaching Opportunity in the NFL. He’s also among the nation’s foremost experts on the NFL’s hiring practices.
“Just four years ago the NFL had only one general manager of color. Going from one to 10 in four years is progress however you look at it,” Duru wrote in a text message to Andscape. “Now, it’s important to note that it shouldn’t be significant.
“In a league with a player population that is roughly 70% players of color, having 30% GMs of color should not be a big deal. But such diversity is unprecedented in any off-the-field position of power in the NFL. There have never been 10 head coaches of color. There have never been 10 presidents of color. In fact, there have never been 10 offensive coordinators of color.”
When it comes to inclusive hiring at the club level, the NFL still has plenty of heavy lifting to do. With the position of general manager, however, the league is getting the results its top leaders want.
Source Publication
ESPN Andscape
Recommended Citation
Duru, Jeremi and Reid, Jason, "[quote] Los Angeles Chargers Elevating JoJo Wooden Gives NFL Record Number of Black General Managers" (2023). Popular Media. 568.
https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/pub_disc_media/568