FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE APPLAUDS FINALIST LIST FOR NFL COMMISSIONER
Yesterday, the National Football League announced its list of five finalists, competing to be Commissioner of the National Football League. For the first time in the history of major league sports in the United States, there is a minority candidate in the final round of competition for Commissioner, Frederick R. Nance, Managing Partner of the home office of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey.
NFL great, Harry Carson, who will be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday declared "this is a historic moment in major league sports and part of our struggle to break down all racial barriers in the NFL." Carson is the Executive Director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance.
John Wooten, Chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance and former All Pro Lineman with the Cleveland Browns, stated, "When Commissioner Tagliabue stated his intention to resign one of the first persons who came to mind on the short list for the next Commissioner, was Fred Nance. Attorney Nance had done a remarkable job of navigating issues for the City of Cleveland with the "Save the Browns Campaign" in 1995, which set the stage for the new Browns franchise in 1999. He is an outstanding people person." Nance, who chairs his law firm's Cleveland office, has a wealth of experience in sports and business, including serving as chair of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, Cleveland's Chamber of Commerce.
Civil rights attorney, Cyrus Mehri, who co-founded the FPA along with the late Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. and serves as counsel to the organization declared "There are minority candidates ready to compete for any and all positions, including Commissioner of the NFL. The NFL ultimately benefits from casting a broad net and having diverse candidates. We applaud the Owners' Search Committee's inclusive process."
The Fritz Pollard Alliance, founded in 2003, is an affinity group of minority coaches, front office and scouting personnel. The FPA advocates for policy initiatives, including the adoption of the Rooney Rule, front office and head coach hiring guidelines, and regularly provides the NFL a "Ready List" identifying viable minority candidates ready to compete for open coaching, front office and scouting positions. The FPA provided a Ready List to the NFL Owners' Search Committee, which included Attorney Nance.
In late 2002, the NFL adopted the Rooney Rule requiring that the NFL interview at least one minority candidate prior to selecting a head coach. Since the Rule was adopted the number of minority head coaches has risen from two to seven.