Like “woke,” “political correctness,” “affirmative action,” and “cancel culture” before it, “DEI” started as a well-intentioned concept before being transformed into a pejorative by America’s right-wing. While diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives aim to ensure fair treatment and full participation for historically underrepresented groups, the term has been repurposed to imply that those who might benefit from it are undeserving. As Rafiel Deon Warfield from Slate noted, The Right has turned DEI into a “slur” all its own.
In light of Donald Trump’s re-election as President, many corporations are aligning with this sentiment, announcing plans to discontinue their DEI programs in an apparent bid for appeasement. During his annual Super Bowl Week press conference, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was questioned about the league’s commitment to its DEI initiatives amidst this changing landscape.
Roger Goodell on continuing the NFL’s DEI policies:
“It does make the NFL better. 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.” pic.twitter.com/cYMK6sfjI7
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 3, 2025
“We got into diversity efforts because we felt it was the right thing for the National Football League,” Goodell stated. “And we’re gonna continue to do those efforts because we’ve not only convinced ourselves, I think we’ve proven to ourselves, that it does make the NFL better. Our efforts are fundamental in trying to attract the best possible talent into the National Football League, both on and off the field… I think we’ll continue those efforts. It’s also clearly a reflection of our fanbase and our communities and our players.” He also discussed The Rooney Rule, the oft-maligned mandate requiring NFL teams to interview minority candidates for key positions, which many believe is often exploited.
“The Rooney Rule for us is there’s no requirement to hire a particular individual based on race or gender. It’s simply about examining a canvas of candidates that reflect our communities to make the best hiring decisions,” he explained. Goodell emphasized that many within the NFL voluntarily pursue these practices because they yield benefits. Despite the temptation for the NFL to capitulate to the Trump administration and suggest a reassessment of their practices, Goodell asserts that there’s really no downside to being inclusive when hiring the best person for the job, even against narratives to the contrary.
It’s significant that an influential organization like the NFL acknowledges a path forward in DEI efforts, yet there remains much work to be done. One wonders what additional questions Jim Trotter might have posed had he been present. Goodell’s statements may not resonate well with President Trump, who might be considering how to impose a tariff on NFL tickets now.
