Lack of Black ownership in the NFL continues as former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice added to the new Broncos ownership group

Amid the ongoing concerns regarding Black ownership in the National Football League and the lawsuit by a former Black coach, the Denver Broncos’ new ownership group announced last week that former U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is joining the incoming ownership group for the team. 

The acquisition is being led by Walmart heir Rob Walton who announced the inclusion of Rice in a statement issued Monday on behalf of the Walton-Penner family ownership group. The new ownership group is led by Walton and includes his daughter, Carrie Walton Penner, and her husband, Greg Penner. Walton, 77, was chairman of Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, from 1992-2015, before he retired. He is the eldest son of founder Sam Walton and Helen Walton and has an estimated net worth of nearly $60 billion.

The group agreed to buy the franchise from the Pat Bowlen Trust last month for a reported $4.65 billion. The sale is pending approval by the NFL. 

Rice, 67, had at one time been rumored as a candidate for the NFL commissioner and has been linked to a variety of potential NFL roles. In announcing Rice’s inclusion, Walton said in a statement, “A highly respected public servant, accomplished academic and corporate leader, Secretary Rice is well known as a passionate and knowledgeable football fan who has worked to make the sport stronger and better. Her unique experience and extraordinary judgment will be a great benefit to our group and the Broncos organization.”

Rice, an Alabama native, has strong ties to Denver. She attended the University of Denver where she received her undergraduate degree and Ph.D. She is the former provost at Stanford University and served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush from 2005-09. She’s also been on the College Football Playoff selection committee and chaired a commission on college basketball.

The ownership change in Denver comes at a key moment in the NFL. Critics have long pointed to the problems in the NFL as it relates to ownership of teams and the hiring of Black Coaches. Says one critic, the NFL has a racism problem that Rooney rules, regulations, and Super Bowl halftime shows with Black rappers can’t root out. 

Still waiting for his day in court is former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, who filed a class-action lawsuit against the league and three of its teams alleging racial discrimination. While 70% of the NFL players are Black, according to Flores, there was only one Black coach when he filed his suit. One Black coach and one multiracial coach have been hired since then. What is at issue is the fact that there has never been a Black owner in the history of the NFL. Some feel that this is an opportunity and to fight inherent and systemic racism in its hiring practices is for the NFL to find a Black owner.

Among the relief measures sought in Flores’ lawsuit is for the NFL to “ensure diversity of ownership by creating and funding a committee dedicated to sourcing Black investors to take majority ownership stakes in NFL Teams.”

With the Denver Broncos up for sale, will the Commissioner take this as an opportunity to create a Black ownership group or will he punt?