Racism Is Still Alive and Running Deep Through the NFL
This weekend a guy informed me there was no racism in the NFL (Facebook expert)
Oh really?
Despite decades of public proclamations about equality and progress, racism remains deeply embedded in the fabric of the National Football League (NFL). On the surface, the league presents a multicultural tapestry of players, fans, and even initiatives that seem to champion diversity. However, a closer look reveals a system where power, opportunity, and decision-making still rest disproportionately in the hands of white owners and executives, perpetuating a long-standing racial hierarchy.
First, there is the glaring disparity between the racial makeup of the players versus the leadership. While about 70% of NFL players are Black, the overwhelming majority of team owners, general managers, and head coaches are white. As of 2025, there are only a handful of Black head coaches, and virtually no Black owners. Despite the introduction of the Rooney Rule two decades ago—requiring teams to interview minority candidates for top positions—the actual hiring rates have barely budged. In many cases, teams fulfill the rule’s minimum requirement with what amount to token interviews, while ultimately hiring the white candidate they intended to all along. Diversity, in other words, has become a performative checkbox rather than a genuine commitment.
The league’s response to players’ protests against racial injustice has also exposed deep racial tensions. When Colin Kaepernick peacefully knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality, he was effectively blackballed from the NFL. Despite being more qualified than many backup quarterbacks who continued to get jobs, Kaepernick was systematically shut out. His silent protest was portrayed as an attack on patriotism rather than the moral stand against injustice that it was. Meanwhile, the league dragged its feet before finally acknowledging the reality of systemic racism—only after massive public pressure following the murder of George Floyd. Even then, the statements of solidarity rang hollow, as Kaepernick remained unsigned, and owners who had contributed millions to politicians with histories of racist policies continued to operate without accountability.
Furthermore, the NFL’s treatment of Black players reinforces a narrative that they are valued more for their physicality than their intellect. Black quarterbacks, for example, long had to fight stereotypes suggesting they weren’t “smart” enough to play the position. This bias, though less overt today, still shows up in scouting reports, commentary, and contract negotiations. The idea that white players are the “brains” of the team—whether as quarterbacks, coaches, or general managers—while Black players are the “muscle,” is a racialized trope that refuses to die.
Even off the field, Black players are scrutinized and disciplined more harshly than their white counterparts. A 2020 study found that Black players faced more severe penalties for conduct violations, despite similar infractions by white players. Additionally, racial bias was evident in the league’s mishandling of concussion settlements, where Black players had to meet harder standards under the “race-norming” practice, essentially assuming Black players had lower cognitive function to start with.
The NFL is a microcosm of broader American society—an institution that celebrates Black talent on Sunday afternoons but resists sharing real power the rest of the week. Until ownership, leadership, and culture truly reflect the diversity of the players who make the game great, racism will remain a deep, unhealed wound running through the heart of the NFL.
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Despite decades of public proclamations about equality and progress, racism remains deeply embedded in the fabric of the National Football League (NFL). On the surface, the league presents a multicultural tapestry of players, fans, and even initiatives that seem to champion diversity. However, a closer look reveals a system where power, opportunity, and decision-making still rest disproportionately in the hands of white owners and executives, perpetuating a long-standing racial hierarchy.
First, there is the glaring disparity between the racial makeup of the players versus the leadership. While about 70% of NFL players are Black, the overwhelming majority of team owners, general managers, and head coaches are white. As of 2025, there are only a handful of Black head coaches, and virtually no Black owners. Despite the introduction of the Rooney Rule two decades ago—requiring teams to interview minority candidates for top positions—the actual hiring rates have barely budged. In many cases, teams fulfill the rule’s minimum requirement with what amount to token interviews, while ultimately hiring the white candidate they intended to all along. Diversity, in other words, has become a performative checkbox rather than a genuine commitment.
The league’s response to players’ protests against racial injustice has also exposed deep racial tensions. When Colin Kaepernick peacefully knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality, he was effectively blackballed from the NFL. Despite being more qualified than many backup quarterbacks who continued to get jobs, Kaepernick was systematically shut out. His silent protest was portrayed as an attack on patriotism rather than the moral stand against injustice that it was. Meanwhile, the league dragged its feet before finally acknowledging the reality of systemic racism—only after massive public pressure following the murder of George Floyd. Even then, the statements of solidarity rang hollow, as Kaepernick remained unsigned, and owners who had contributed millions to politicians with histories of racist policies continued to operate without accountability.
Furthermore, the NFL’s treatment of Black players reinforces a narrative that they are valued more for their physicality than their intellect. Black quarterbacks, for example, long had to fight stereotypes suggesting they weren’t “smart” enough to play the position. This bias, though less overt today, still shows up in scouting reports, commentary, and contract negotiations. The idea that white players are the “brains” of the team—whether as quarterbacks, coaches, or general managers—while Black players are the “muscle,” is a racialized trope that refuses to die.
Even off the field, Black players are scrutinized and disciplined more harshly than their white counterparts. A 2020 study found that Black players faced more severe penalties for conduct violations, despite similar infractions by white players. Additionally, racial bias was evident in the league’s mishandling of concussion settlements, where Black players had to meet harder standards under the “race-norming” practice, essentially assuming Black players had lower cognitive function to start with.
The NFL is a microcosm of broader American society—an institution that celebrates Black talent on Sunday afternoons but resists sharing real power the rest of the week. Until ownership, leadership, and culture truly reflect the diversity of the players who make the game great, racism will remain a deep, unhealed wound running through the heart of the NFL.
Julie Bolejack, MBA
