NFL To Continue DEI Initiatives Amidst Trump’s Takedown On Diversity

Ever since Donald Trump took over the White House, the political and cultural landscape has witnessed a huge shift. Amongst many progressive initiatives undertaken by both government and corporations, one was DEI which aimed to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce. 
However, President Trump has made his disapproval of the initiative very clear. Let’s see what the NFL has to say about this new cultural shift. 

Continuing DEI

Roger Goodley, Commissioner of the NFL while addressing the annual state of the league to kick off the Super Bowl made his views regarding the NFL extremely clear. Goodley said, “We got into diversity efforts because we felt it was the right thing for the National Football League and we’re going to continue towards that because we’ve not only convinced ourselves, I think we’ve proven ourselves that it does make the NFL better.

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

Goodley further emphasizes the benefits of DEI. He adds “We’re not in this because it’s a trend to get into or a trend to get out of it,” Goodell continued. “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’ve said previously. We see that. We see how it’s benefitted the National Football League. 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.”

Strong History

The NFL has a strong history when it comes to diversity and inclusiveness. Over the past, the NFL has introduced initiatives like Rooney Rule and newsroom diversity at NFL Media which have proven to benefit the NFL despite its scrutiny and subsequent lawsuits. 

Moreover, the NFL itself has been at loggerheads with the Trump administration since their first term. This has also led to many franchise owners suggesting the NFL tone down on politics. However, the NFL has always stood firm on its stance regarding diversity and equality. 

The Trump Effect

Trump throughout his election campaign had made his views clear on DEI initiatives followed by the federal government. Once in charge of the Oval Office, Trump signed an executive order that directed to pause any diversity hiring within the federal agencies. Following this, many corporate giants like Meta, Walmart, McDonald’s, etc have also put a pause on their DEI efforts. 

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