The National Football League's Problem

Author

Marley R. Merchen, University of MontanaFollow

Year of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Communication Studies

Department or School/College

Communication Studies

Committee Chair

Greg Larson

Commitee Members

Erin Wecker, Christina Yoshimura

Keywords

equality, sports, racial, NFL, league

Abstract

The National Football League has a decades-long problem addressing within its highest coaching levels. has long been negotiated within the sports community through gender and race. This paper provides insights into what equality means in sports by analyzing the use of the ideograph in the NFL's discourse. The author examines the NFL's problem and how it is negotiated within hiring practices. The lack of within the league is seen through three different problems: the “pipeline problem,” the “Black problem,” and the “competency problem.” The NFL and its critics use these problems to address the significant disparity between

Black players and Black coaches in the league. The NFL’s problem is complex and helps inform other sports organizations' struggles with . To move forward, the NFL must work towards rather than hiding behind this political term without creating tangible results.

Recommended Citation

Merchen, Marley R., "The National Football League's Problem" (2024). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12363.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12363