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On Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that they had hired Sandra Douglass Morgan as new team president. Morgan’s hire is significant because she is now the first black woman to hold such a position in the NFL.
Morgan is a former Nevada Gaming Control Board chairperson. She was also the first black person to serve as a control board chair for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Nevada (Las Vegas) is the epicenter of sports betting, so Morgan brings years of experience with state gaming laws as well as professional sports.
In a letter to the Raiders, Morgan expressed gratitude and excitement about her hiring:
“I am thrilled to join you as we 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.”
She also expanded on the responsibilities of her new role:
“Let me be clear – I am not here to avoid or sidestep problems or concerns that need to be addressed. I’ve given long and thoughtful consideration to joining you, and I’ve done so because I believe in the promise of the Raiders. Most importantly, I believe in your core values of integrity, community, and commitment to excellence. I will expect you to embody those and to hold me accountable to doing the same.”
Morgan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a juris doctor from UNLV's Boyd Law School. She is married to Don Morgan, who played for the Vikings from 1999-2001 and the Cardinals in 2002. She has also served as an Independent Director with Allegiant Airlines, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Raiders are no strangers to landmark hires. The NFL franchise hired Tom Flores in 1979 as the first Latino head coach in the league. Flores was also the league’s first Latino starting quarterback.
The Raiders also hired Art Shell in 1989, who was the first black head coach in the NFL. The team also hired the NFL’s first woman CEO when it brought Amy Trask on board in 1997. She served as CEO until 2013.
The Las Vegas Raiders enter the 2022-23 NFL season looking to upend the Kansas City Chiefs
The Raiders ended the 2021 regular season on a wild note by beating the Los Angeles Chargers in an epic final game with a playoff berth on the line. After losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round, the Raiders will look to reload their current roster and hope to make some noise in the AFC West next season.
They hired former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as head coach. The team then traded for star wide receiver Davante Adams. With a solid defense and added firepower, the Raiders will hope to properly challenge the Chiefs and the rest of the AFC West.
