NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) despite the country’s shift to eliminate DEI measures.
“Our policies have been designed to be well within the law, well within the practice,” Goodell said. “There are no quotas in our system. This is about opening that funnel and bringing the best talent into the NFL.”
He explained that he believes “we are doing the right thing for the NFL and our policies are consistent with the current administration as well as the last administration,” claiming that diversity efforts have “attracted better talent.”
Goodell reiterated his beliefs that diversity efforts make the NFL stronger.
“We think we’re better when we get different perspectives, people with different backgrounds, whether they’re women or men or people of color, we make ourselves stronger and we make ourselves better when we have that,” Goodell said. “It’s something that I think it will have a tremendous impact on this lead for many, many years. We win on the field with the best talent and the best coaching, and I think the same’s true off the field.
He added that the NFL began diversity efforts “because we felt it was the right thing for the National Football League, and we’re going to continue those efforts because we’ve not only convinced ourselves, I think we’ve proven ourselves that it does make the NFL better.”
“So, we’re not in this because it’s a trend to get in or a trend to get out of it, our efforts are fundamental in trying to attract the best possible talent into the National Football League, both on and off the field, as I said previously. And we see that. We see how it’s benefited the National Football League,” Goodell continued. “And so, I think we’ll continue those efforts. I think it’s also clearly a reflection of our fan base and our communities and our players.”
Numerous companies and organizations have terminated DEI programs following President Donald Trump’s executive order removing diversity efforts from the federal government.
