The NFL is literally putting its money where its mouth is. Just days after commissioner Roger Goodell issued a strong (albeit belated) response opposing police brutality and social inequality, the NFL announced it will commit $250 million to organizations combatting systemic racism over the next decade.
The league has previously donated to similar causes, contributing $44 million in the past few years to 20 national social justice partners and over 300 grassroots organizations recommended by former and current NFL players. However, Goodell and others must have felt that wasn’t enough, prompting Thursday’s announcement that the league will spend a quarter billion dollars on—among other initiatives—criminal justice and police reform as well as programs promoting the “economic and educational advancement” of African Americans.
According to Judy Battista of NFL.com, the league would even be “willing” to work with Colin Kaepernick. The former 49ers quarterback has been out of the league since 2016, when he began kneeling during the national anthem in an effort to bring awareness to civil rights issues. Kaepernick held a showcase for interested teams last fall, but nothing came of it.
"We wouldn't be where we are today without the work Colin and other players have led off," an anonymous league source told Battista. “It would be awesome to engage Colin on some of the work we are doing. He's doing real impactful work.” While teams have been reluctant to give Kaepernick a second chance, many feel the outspoken 32-year-old has been vindicated by greater national acceptance of the Black Lives Matter movement amid recent events.
The NFL had previously penalized players who protested the national anthem with fines, but with many prominent stars including Adrian Peterson expected to kneel, that policy is sure to be reassessed this offseason. There’s still much progress to be made. Richard Sherman called out owners including Jerry Jones for their silence on issues of race while the Rooney Rule incentivizing teams to hire minority head coaches has had little effect. But if the NFL is serious about making social causes a priority, Thursday’s $250-million gesture was an excellent start.
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