Never before has a Black individual held the position of commissioner in professional sports, and there are concerns that this may not occur in the near future.

• No Black commissioner has ever led a professional sports league in the U.S.
• Experts and academics assert that leagues must make significant strides to enhance representation in front offices, particularly in the C-suite.

It’s been a heavy Black history month for professional sports.

Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the NFL, accusing the league of discriminatory hiring practices. Eminem knelt during the Super Bowl halftime show in solidarity with Colin Kapernick, who was blacklisted for protesting racial injustice.

The Commanders, previously known as the Washington Football Team, have officially been renamed by the NFL, more than a year after abandoning their previous name, which was considered offensive to Native Americans.

Another discussion about race and sports is taking place, but it's not being discussed openly in public.

No Black chief executive, or commissioner, has ever led any of the major pro sports leagues in the U.S., including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and WNBA, which totals to at least 28 league commissioners, none of whom are Black.

Michael Eric Dyson, a professor of African American studies at Vanderbilt University and a renowned scholar on race and culture, stated that it is impossible to get Colin Kaepernick on a team. He added that discussing a Black commissioner is a leap of faith that is beyond the understanding of mortal men, as it was said on the Andy Griffith Show.

In the aftermath of the social unrest in 2020, various private companies and organizations pledged to enhance their diversity. For instance, some companies stated that they wouldn't go public without having at least one "diverse" board member or candidate. Moreover, the NFL and NBA emphasized their commitment to "drive economic empowerment" and combat racial injustices among Black people by dedicating more than $500 million.

It is uncertain if the push for diversity and economic improvement will extend to pro sports C-suite positions such as CEO.

Lack of Black CEOs in America still a problem

Roger Ferguson Jr. compared the issue of Black CEOs in America to the reflection of society in sports.

Ferguson Jr. was one of the few Black CEOs of a Fortune 500 company, leading financial services company TIAA. During his tenure, he steered the company through the global financial crisis and added 1 million customers, increasing TIAA's assets under management to more than $1 trillion.

The issue of the absence of Black CEOs was characterized by Ferguson as a complex problem, and he proposed that diverse boards could help resolve it.

Ferguson, a CNBC contributor, stated that diverse teams in a business context can lead to better outcomes, including financial outcomes, not just cultural outcomes.

Despite the efforts of former CEOs Kenneth Chenault, Ken Frazier, and Ferguson, there are still only a few Black CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies. These include Thasunda Brown Duckett of TIAA, Rosalind Brewer of Walmart, and Marvin Ellison of Dell Technologies.

Ferguson expressed cautious optimism that more top companies would hire Black CEOs, but warned that companies and sports leagues must address the issue as Black consumers become more aware.

Ferguson emphasized that it is not only a moral obligation but also a business necessity for boards to understand. In sports, where a significant number of athletes and fans are African-American, it is crucial for the front and back offices to reflect the diversity of the fan base and the teams. This approach will not only be morally right but also good business.

Race problems and the Reggie Williams nomination

The Vanderbilt University professor, Dyson, argued that the lack of understanding about race issues is the root cause of Black executives being held back, preventing them from becoming commissioners.

According to Dyson, the intellectual elite holds the belief that Black people are capable of providing physical labor but not intellectual and social leadership, which is ironic given their contributions as civil rights leaders, ministers, and corporate heads. Dyson emphasizes that there is ample evidence to prove that Black people are equally capable of leading any other race or group.

Dyson called it “one of the last bastions of non-Black superiority.”

The narrative that Black candidates lack the intelligence, cunning, and connections to hold a commissioner's position remains unchanged.

As a commissioner, you must have connections, as it implies that you have a well-established relationship and the ability to negotiate with owners on their behalf in a broader arena. However, there may be some skepticism about a Black person's ability to engage in such activities.

In the Continental Basketball Association, a minor league that folded in 2009, there was a Black commissioner on the lower sports level when Terdema Ussery held the title. Additionally, in 2006, there were rumors that a major pro sports league was on the brink of appointing its first Black CEO.

Richard Lapchick, the head of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, was an early advocate for a Black candidate for a commissioner's seat. In a 2006 article for ESPN, he proposed that the NFL hire Reggie Williams, a former linebacker and respected sports executive, for the job. Williams was considered as a possible replacement for then-Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

And Williams had the credentials.

Williams spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Bengals and served as a city council member during his final season in 1989. He later became the first Black president at XYZ University and is known for creating Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Williams, with his football background, was thought to be a great businessperson by Lapchick. His perspective, refreshing for the NFL, was expected to address issues that were prevalent then and still exist today.

Despite NFL owners passing over Williams for the role, Goodell became one of the highest-paid CEOs in America, earning an average of $64 million annually from 2019 to 2021, according to the New York Times.

Goodell's contract expires in 2024, and there were rumors he might retire, potentially paving the way for another historic moment. However, Sports Business Journal reported that Goodell is currently in talks for an extension, which the NFL has denied.

Would NFL owners seriously consider a Black candidate if Goodell leaves?

Dyson said no.

The owners have not shown any signs of being willing to move forward with their troubled and often traumatic racial beliefs, some of which are antiquated, despite their willingness to do so.

Will there ever be a Black commissioner?

Although major leagues are slow to promote diversity in their executive positions, college sports have made progress in this area.

In March 2019, the Sun Belt Conference appointed Keith Gill as commissioner, marking him as the first Black man to hold the role in an NCAA football bowl subdivision conference. In June 2019, Kevin Warren became the first Black chief operating officer in the NFL and took over as Big Ten commissioner, making history as the first Black man to lead a Power 5 conference.

Warren, with his NFL business background and commissioner experience, is being compared to Williams as speculation in sports business circles suggests he could one day become a pro sports commissioner, possibly in the NFL.

"I've admired Warren since his days at Minnesota," Lapchick stated when asked about his thoughts on Warren as a candidate.

Warren stated that he believes in people's ability to do the right thing for the right reasons and at the right time, and that he will always strive to operate at the highest level in his current position.

Columbia University professor Len Elmore argued that the NBA would have a Black commissioner before the NFL, citing the NFL's difficulty in hiring Black head coaches as evidence that it is not yet ready to add a Black CEO.

Qualified Black coaches are plentiful, and owners are aware of their existence. However, they still choose to hire less qualified individuals, which highlights their comfort level with certain individuals. This is what I am examining.

A tough job to land

The NFL and NBA's CEO positions may not be ready for a change yet.

Adam Silver, the league commissioner of the NBA, has a contract that runs until 2024. At 59 years old, he shows no signs of stepping away from his role. Additionally, Silver is the most popular commissioner in pro sports due to his decision to fire former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in 2014 for making racist remarks.

During my lifetime, the most significant decision made by a commissioner, according to Lapchick, was that one.

Mark Tatum, the NBA's deputy commissioner, could potentially make history if Silver decides to move on. Like Warren, Dyson believes that Tatum is gaining experience, knowledge, and skill to eventually become a commissioner.

Washington Commanders team president Jason Wright, who became the NFL's first team president in August 2020, during the social unrest, is a future name to look out for.

The former Princeton standout and Oregon State University men's basketball coach, Craig Robinson, is now the executive director at the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He emphasized that sports owners must overcome "institutional bias" in order to make history.

Robinson stated that it is time for people to recognize that there are numerous qualified candidates who can excel in their roles. However, the commissioner is appointed by the owners, and the majority of them are white. This presents a problem because the owners may not be exposed to high-quality, high-performing minority women and Black individuals who can perform the job.

The commissioner's seat is difficult to obtain because there are only a few of them, and a lot of factors need to align, including the right timing.

Before a Black CEO can lead a major league sports league, Dyson believes that numerous diversity issues must be addressed by the leagues.

Dyson stated that it is difficult to resolve diverse issues and straighten them out within these leagues, despite progress being made. He lamented that a Black commissioner is still years, if not decades, away.