Oh, the irony of so many old white NFL owners and GMs having a reason to dislike the San Francisco 49ers. The hypocrisy of a group of men who agreed to allow minority executives and coaches to be interviewed. When a league which consists of “The Good Ol’ Boys Club” and how they all sat in the same room to give minorities an opportunity for advancement. Allow me to be brutally honest in the context and optics from a black perspective.
Upon the agreement to increase diversity and equal opportunity for minorities, owners and GMs agreed to send two 3rd round picks if a minority was hired away from a team to fulfill the same role etc.. Now, these old white men have become jealous of the San Francisco 49ers having roughly ten 3rd round picks. Here’s why they’re upset:
The awarded teams are given 3rd round selections in each of the next two or three drafts, if two minority employees are hired by another team. Contextually, this agreement has raised issues with owners and GMs in part of the Niners successful draft and front office development. The question I have is why are you making a big deal over another team’s success and blueprint?
The purpose of this was to place minorities in meeting rooms for interviews for better roles. Are you threatened by a person of color who may be ahead of the learning curve? Again, the objective is to further diversity and equality for minorities. But the “Good Ol’ Boys Club” is seeing overnight success and it’s not one of them. As the optics become clearer, these old white men can’t handle something they agreed to and now it’s a problem for their club. You seem a little shook to see minorities making the right business decisions and having smart minded football executives to handle daily operations. Oh, those are black men who came from the San Francisco tree of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch.
I’ll use this analogy: San Francisco is the Golden State Warriors of the NFL. Yes, I said it in part of how they maximize the right guys and develop them into fulfilling greater roles with other teams. Oh, now you want to trip and throw a tantrum behind closed doors due to the black men having a strong portfolio under Kyle and John? Even if you don’t hire from the Niners, a minority from another team receives compensation for their former team.
Case in point, don’t change a rule to stop progression with diversity. You wouldn’t understand how we feel in securing interviews and positioning ourselves for generational wealth. When a black coach/executive is hired, it’s a win for our community. If we don’t get the job, another door opens. But what I find laughable is no response from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. As the biggest face and voice in the sport, no initial response on this issue regarding player hating owners and GMs.
You see, one black man in a meeting room brings a threat to old white men. That one man who’s not afraid to use his voice and strike ire with you all is taking a step. Everyone frowned when former NFL player turned NFLPA Troy Vincent did this several years in the past. Black coaches were ousted and enough was enough. There’s a reason these rules are in place to give opportunities and trailblaze the next generation.
NFL owners and GMs need to chill and embrace the shifting of power. Fighting for our rightful place in the sport has been well documented. If you’re going to attempt to stop this, you’re breaking CBA and there’s no way around it. It’s a battle you’ll lose despite your “money” and elite club to keep minorities out. We’re not backing down and know how to fight you mentally. Our voices will be heard loud and clear without hesitation. You think you’re slick but all we need is enough voices and war cries to win. Roger Goodell won’t have any sympathy for any of you and will be quick to say no in a heartbeat.
Keep fighting black men and women in NFL offices. We’ve earned the right to be in these rooms and will continue to use our platforms to the unjust treatments of “The Good Ol’ Boys Club.” The storm may be strong and severe, but rest assured we’ll see clearly when the rain is gone.
Stai tuned.
