By Julio Rodriguez
A serious fight looms.
Former San Diego Tribune journalist Jim Trotter is taking on the NFL.
Chula Vista’s Trotter has filed a 53-page complaint in federal court against the NFL, alleging discriminatory and racist practices against people of color.
He said he intends to shed light on practices at the NFL Newsroom, where Trotter worked before asking Commissioner Roger Goodell one too many questions about racial inequalities at a press conference during the run up to the 2023 Super Bowl.
Trotter was fired.
It was not his first time challenging the NFL’s racial culture. Though 55 percent of NFL players are black, its leadership is overwhelmingly white.
In August 2020 Trotter was taunted at the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame exhibition game by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Trotter was speaking to Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay about the lack of players being drafted from HBCUs and the lack of people of color in decision making positions.
Jones butted in, stating that players already received a large percentage of the league’s revenue.
“If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire,” Jones said.
In October 2021 Trotter was preparing to go on the television program “NFL Now” to discuss the Jon Gruden scandal. Gruden had sent multiple emails filled with racial, homophobic and misogynistic content. Trotter also wanted to discuss Jones’ remark.
Trotter notified his direct supervisor, Ali Bhanphuri, director of NFL Media, that he intended to discuss Jones on air. Bhanphuri then notified his boss, Todd Sperry.
Sperry directed Mr. Trotter via text to, “refrain from discussing Jerry Jones until you, me and Ali have had a chance to discuss. Ali and I were discussing and wondering if there’s any additional context around that quote?”
Trotter did not report on Mr. Jones’ quote, but he did not agree with the decision.
Shortly after the Gruden incident, an email was sent out companywide from the NFL’s HR department.
It said the NFL takes its values seriously and that HR leadership is ready to support them. Nothing was done.
Trotter left ESPN to join the NFL Media team in 2018, under the condition that he could report on player activism. He said he was assured he could pursue what he wanted to cover.
After two years with the NFL, Trotter signed a three-year contract extension through March 2023. After signing the contract, Trotter said he began to notice things he had not seen before. He noticed the lack of black people in the NFL Media newsroom and in decision making positions. He began to make inquiries about the number of black people working in the NFL.
Data Trotter collected demonstrated that the NFL lacked diversity. Only two Black people worked as in executive vice presidents. Total Black employees in league offices in New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles was just 8 percent.
John Marvel, his supervisor, agreed, but he and Trotter seemed to be in the minority. Marvel reminded Trotter that NFL Media reports to the league office. He urged his friend Trotter to tread lightly.
In June of 2021 Marvel was fired and replaced with Bhanphuri. Trotter said he lost his ally. Bhanphuri directed Trotter not to report on racial issues in the NFL.
Trotter challenged NFL Executive Vice President Dasha Smith to hire a black manager for the news desk. Smith was not happy.
“Yes Jim,” wrote. “You regularly make us aware of this. Hopefully you won’t have to ask any more in the next year.”
Two months later Smith asked Trotter if he was “in alignment” with the newsroom. Trotter said he was committed to his job, but not in alignment with newsroom racial practices.
“Yeah, Yeah, what I thought,” she replied. “That’s what I thought. You know, it’s tough to go against corporate headwinds. Sometimes you have to compromise. Sometimes you have to pay the mortgage.”
Trotter’s contract was not renewed.
The NFL released a statement regarding Trotter’s lawsuit:
“We share Jim Trotter’s passion for quality Journalism created and supported by a diverse and inclusive environment. We take his concern seriously, but strongly dispute his specific allegations, particularly those made against his dedicated colleagues at NFL Media.”
Trotter awaits his day in court.
Jim Trotter Photo Courtesy of ESPN