The Las Vegas Raiders made history on Thursday when the franchise named Sandra Douglass Morgan it’s new team president. The historic move makes her the first Black woman in league history to ever hold that distinction.
She joins the Washington Commanders’ Jason Wright, who became the league’s first Black team president, male or female, and Baltimore Ravens team president Sashi Brown.
The glass-ceiling-shattering announcement was at the beautiful Allegiant Stadium, home of the “Ray-duhs.” An ecstatic Morgan had this to say to say in a letter released by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Raiders have hired Sandra Douglass Morgan as their new team president, per @mickakers 👏 pic.twitter.com/5K5RU9PJ7H
— PFF (@PFF) July 7, 2022
“I am thrilled to join you as you embark on one of the most exciting times in the history of our organization. I look forward to meeting each of you in person over the coming weeks.”
Raiders owner Mark Davis, who’s on record saying he’d be OK if the team’s decision-makers saw fit to sign Colin Kaepernick, had this to say about Morgan’s landmark hire.
“I am thrilled that Sandra has agreed to join the Raiders family. Her experience, integrity, and passion for this community will be invaluable to our organization. From the moment I met Sandra, I knew she was a force to be reckoned with. We are extremely lucky to have her.”
Morgan Joins Jason Wright and Sashi Brown In Rarified Air
The hiring of Morgan comes on the heels of the Washington Commanders hiring Jason Wright in August 2020. The Browns followed suit and hired Sashi Brown in February following the retirement of longtime team president Dick Cass. If Morgan’s position is anything like that of Wright and Brown, she’ll focus on the business side of things.
Her hiring also comes several months after former head coach Jon Gruden resigned after racist and misogynistic emails from his past resurfaced. The front office needs to be tighter, and the business dealings have to produce a Super Bowl-caliber team sooner rather than later. Now Morgan will be tasked with trying to repair the team motto of “Commitment To Excellence.” While she sounds like someone who knows her work is cut out for her, she also sounds like she’s ready to tackle it head on.
Raiders announced they officially have hired Sandra Douglass Morgan as their new president. pic.twitter.com/CB1ZIkIh85
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 7, 2022
Morgan used the words “humbled and honored,” to describe her feeling when team owner Mark Davis reached out to her concerning the job.
“It’s no secret this organization has faced some recent challenges. But I want to be clear: I am not here to sweep anything under the rug or avoid problems or concerns that need to be addressed.”
SDM Enters A Franchise Trying To Rebuild Trust
Morgan enters a situation similar to the mess Jason Wright inherited in Washington. A franchise with potential but harboring deep problems and needing a bit of a rebrand. Wright oversaw the process of the Commanders rebrand. This amidst sexual assault allegations against team owner Daniel Snyder.
By contrast, Brown entered a Ravens situation which happens to be one of the most stable and well-run in the entire league.
A few years ago, having a Black team president was unheard of. Now there are three.
