As a Raiders fan, I’m elated. Am I surprised? Not in the slightest…
The Commitment to Excellence
Once again, the Silver and Black have headlined the sports world. As of yesterday, Sandra Douglass Morgan (pictured above on the left) became the first female president of an NFL team. This move marks a historic day in Raiders history, but more importantly, in league history. To many people, it’s more than just a job. It’s a milestone for women, and a step forward in racial equality. In a league predominantly lead by male players, staff, and coaches, it represents a beacon of hope for female athletes.
As a man, I’m thrilled to see her breaking down barriers. I couldn’t be happier for her and her future with the team. As a Raiders fan however, I’m honestly not surprised at all. Looking back at the history of the Las Vegas Raiders, they’ve always been trailblazers for the NFL. This move is nothing new to the organization. It’s not a “publicity stunt”, or an attempt to right the wrongs of the Jon Gruden signing. Mark Davis hired Sandra Douglass Morgan simply because she was the right person for the job.
Following in his father’s footsteps…
Like his father Al Davis, Mark continues to set an example for what the NFL and the Las Vegas Raiders are supposed to be. When Al Davis first started off his career in the NFL as a head coach, he only cared about one thing…winning. All he wanted to do was win, he could care less what you looked like. As long as you were a good football player, you could play on his team. Al Davis and the Raiders were the first team in NFL history to draft an African American quarterback in the first round. When Eldridge Dickey (the draftee) would later bring it up to Al Davis, Davis replied with:
“Let it go. You’re stifling the growth of the game…”
The Raiders were also the first NFL team to hire a minority head coach in Tom Flores, and the first black head coach in Art Shell. When Art Shell was first given the head coaching job of the Raiders back in 1989, Mr. Davis made it clear to him what his intentions were, saying this:
“I want you to know one thing. I’m not hiring you because you’re black. I’m hiring you because I feel that you are the best possible candidate for this job at this time…”
The Key Takeaway
This specific signing reminds us that Al’s vision still lives on. Davis never cared for the color of your skin. All he focused on was winning, and if you could get the job done, that was good enough. So with that being said, let me leave you with this. Sandra Douglass Morgan’s job description is simple. Just. Win.
Thanks for reading my article, I appreciate the support! I just started writing for Gridiron Heroics, but if you’re interested in checking out more of my work here’s a link to another article of mine