A former NFL Media journalist has announced that a settlement has been reached with the NFL to resolve a lawsuit. The journalist accused the league of refusing to address long-standing institutional discrimination and alleged that his contract was not renewed due to his concerns regarding equity and racial injustice.
The settlement includes the NFL making a donation to the journalist's newly launched scholarship foundation for journalism students attending historically Black colleges and universities. The journalist expressed pride in supporting HBCU students, drawing from his own experiences as a student at Howard University.
One of the journalist's attorneys commended his client for creating a charity aimed at helping Black sports journalism students and promoting diversity in the field, aligning with the goals of the lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed 13 months ago, cited racially insensitive comments allegedly made by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula. The journalist claimed that his concerns raised with league executives were disregarded, leading to his contract not being renewed.
The NFL responded by disputing the specific allegations and attributing the non-renewal of the contract to business decisions in a changing media landscape. The accused team owners denied the allegations against them.
The journalist alleged discrimination based on race and a hostile work environment fostered by the NFL. He sought a court-ordered monitor to review the league's policies on hiring, retaining, and advancing Black employees.
The lawsuit highlighted the lack of Black individuals in managerial positions or on the news desk at NFL Media. The journalist now works for The Athletic after his tenure at the NFL Network.
The NFL did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the settlement.
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