The attorneys general of New York and California stated on Thursday that they are looking into charges of workplace discrimination at the NFL, citing complaints filed by employees who allege sex, racial, and age bias, sexual harassment, and a hostile work environment.
Attorneys General Letitia James of New York and Rob Bonta of California announced subpoenas for NFL executives as part of an investigation into working culture at the league’s corporate offices in both states.
The authorities, both Democrats, stated that they are using their legal authority to obtain information from the NFL about complaints of female pay inequalities, harassment, and gender and racial discrimination. The probe is limited to the league’s business offices rather than specific teams or players.
“No person should ever have to endure harassment, discrimination, or objectification in the workplace,” James said in a statement. Bonta said he and James have “serious concerns about the NFL’s role in creating an extremely hostile and detrimental work environment.”
The league stated that it will comply with the investigation but called the allegations “entirely inconsistent with the NFL’s values and practices.”
“The NFL offices are places where employees of all genders, races, and backgrounds thrive. We do not tolerate discrimination in any form,” league officials said in a statement.
Allegations of Sexism and Retaliation in the NFL Workplace
James and Bonta highlighted a 2022 New York Times article in which more than 30 former female NFL employees claimed gender discrimination.
The women detailed a sexist culture in the NFL that they said persisted despite Commissioner Roger Goodell’s promises of reform following the 2014 publication of a video showing Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice assaulting his fiancee.
Theresa Locklear, a former NFL official who served as director of business intelligence and optimization, told the Times that after the Rice video became public, managers were instructed to speak to their staff about the film and the league’s response to it.
When Locklear met with her staff, a male colleague, Aaron Jones, argued that Rice’s girlfriend was partly to blame because she had encouraged Rice, and other men on the call seemed to agree. Jones told the Times that he had never discussed Rice with Locklear and would never argue that a woman was to blame for her assault.
The attorneys general also highlighted a case filed earlier this year in Los Angeles Superior Court by Jennifer Love, a former NFL Enterprises director, who claimed her 2022 layoff was retaliation for her accusations of “pervasive sexism” and a “boys’ club” mentality. According to NFL spokeswoman Alex Riethmiller, the league has no comment on Love’s case.
Previous Cases of Workplace Discrimination and Misconduct
Although complaints of race and gender discrimination have dogged the league and individual teams, the wide-ranging investigation into NFL employment practices by New York and California officials appears to be unprecedented.
In November, the attorney general for the District of Columbia sued the Washington Commanders, owner Dan Snyder, the NFL, and Goodell for conspiring to deceive supporters by lying about an investigation into “sexual misconduct and a persistently hostile work environment” within the organization. D.C. and Maryland both investigated and reached a settlement with the team over the withholding of season-ticket deposit money from supporters.
Fired Last year, Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a federal complaint against the NFL and three teams for claimed discriminatory hiring procedures for coaches and general managers, claiming that the organization is still “rife with racism.” The NFL has said Flores’ claims are without merit.