LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — The Washington Football Team said that Jason Wright has been hired as president making him the first Black team president in the history of the NFL.
Wright, 38, was a running back in the NFL for seven years that included San Francisco, Atlanta, Cleveland and Arizona. He was team captain while with the Cardinals and labor-union rep during the league’s 2011 lockout, according to the media release provided Monday.
So excited to join the movement that the Snyders and Coach Rivera have launched. Ready to dive in! https://t.co/kmeFKsCKKp
— Jason Wright (@whoisjwright) August 17, 2020
He will be the youngest team president in the league according to NFL.com
“From football to business school to McKinsey, I have always enjoyed building exciting new things and taking on the hard, seemingly intractable challenges that others may not want to tackle. I especially love doing this with organizations who have deep history and values that set a firm foundation. This team, at this time, is an ideal opportunity for me,” Wright said in a statement. “The transformation of the Washington Football Team is happening across all aspects of the organization – from football to operations to branding to culture – and will make us a truly modern and aspirational franchise. We want to set new standards for the NFL. As a DMV local and fan, I’ve been watching this team with interest long before I knew I could become part of it. I believe in Dan Snyder’s vision for this organization, and I am looking forward to partnering with Coach Rivera, who is a champion for the players and one of the great minds in football. Together, we will define the future of the Washington Football Team.”
Wright will handle business operations and Washington Football Team Coach Ron Rivera will handle the on-field decisions, according to NFL.com. Both will report to the team owner Dan Snyder.
In July, Snyder recently dropped the Redskins name amid pressure from sponsors and after decades of criticism from Native American advocacy groups. It has been changed to the Washington Football Team for at least the 2020 season, giving the organization time to choose a new, full-time name.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Cox Media Group
