Jim Trotter, newly of The Athletic, had a curious response to a discrimination claim against the NFL. The former NFL Network contributor and longtime sportswriter made note of a lawsuit filed against the league by the attorneys general in New York and California.
Trotter also singles out commissioner Roger Goodell and executive VP Dasha Smith for their lack of action.
Although NFL Media had made some cuts in their staff, the move that drew the most attention was not renewing Trotter’s expiring contract in March. The decision to not renew his deal was widely believed to be a response to his direct questioning of Goodell about diversity shortcomings in the league’s media group during the commissioner’s state of the league address at Super Bowl week.
Having jumped onto The Athletic so soon after his exit from NFL Media — declining a three-month severance in the process — Trotter clearly didn’t plan on being a shrinking violet when it comes to discrimination issues with the league. In fact, he has always been one of the most prominent voices among football reporters in matters of race, especially regarding challenges Black and minority coaches have faced in getting head-coaching opportunities.
In their lawsuit, New York attorney general Letitia James and her California counterpart Rob Bonta are citing the New York Times’ widely discussed 2022 investigation into gender discrimination, among other pressing matters. This is laid on top of Brian Flores’ suit against the league and three teams over their hiring practices, and the ongoing turmoil surrounding soon-to-be former Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder.
As long as Trotter has a platform to highlight issues over racism in football, the NFL will keep hearing him, whether it wants to or not.
