The Raiders have hired Las Vegas attorney Sandra Douglass Morgan as their new team president, becoming the first-ever black woman to hold a team president title for an NFL franchise.
Morgan, a Las Vegas native, joins the Raiders after serving as president and executive director of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. She also served as an external affairs director for AT&T Services Inc. in southern Nevada and a litigation attorney for an international gaming and hospitality company.
“I am delighted that Sandra has agreed to join the Raiders family,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement. “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. ‘have at the helm.’
Morgan, who was the first person of color to chair the Nevada Gaming Control Board, is the third woman and third black person to serve as president of an NFL team.
She is also the latest Raiders hire to break barriers. Former Raiders coach Tom Flores was the first Hispanic head coach to win a Super Bowl title and former coach Art Shell was the first black head coach of the NFL’s Super Bowl era.
Morgan, who spent eight years with the city of North Las Vegas, was also Nevada’s first black city attorney when she served in that role from 2013 to 2016.
“I definitely never want to be the last,” Morgan said, “and I want to get to a point where there are no more firsts.”
Morgan emphasized leadership and complete transparency during his introductory press conference at Allegiant Stadium.
“We have so much more to do, and I’m thrilled to lead this growth and look forward to starting the next chapter for the Raiders,” Morgan said. “The fact is, I took on this role because I believe in the promise of the Raiders, I believe in the future of the Raiders and I believe in the principles of community, integrity and, above all, a commitment to the excellence of this organization.
She takes the lead of a team that has gone through tumultuous times within its front office, with two presidents and several longtime executives leaving the organization in less than a year.
Following Marc Badain’s resignation as President last summer, Dan Ventrelle took over in July 2021 on an interim basis and was promoted to a full-time role in January.
But Ventrelle was gone less than a year after joining the organization. In a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal in May, Ventrelle said he was fired in retaliation for raising several employees’ concerns about a “hostile work environment” with the NFL.
“It’s no secret that this organization has faced some recent challenges, but I want to be clear, I’m not here to sweep anything under the rug or avoid issues or concerns that need to be addressed. resolved,” Morgan said. “It’s not lost on me that this is a critical and defining moment in the NFL. It’s important to me and I intend to make a meaningful contribution far beyond the Raiders family. .”
Star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who witnessed Morgan’s introduction, said Raiders players are excited to start a new chapter.
“It’s amazing,” Crosby said. “First of all you just have to break down barriers and Mark has done an amazing job and it started with his dad. You know, just being transparent and giving everyone an equal chance. She’s honestly the best for the job and It’s going to be awesome, we’re excited for the future.”
Coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler welcomed Morgan in a prepared statement.
“We congratulate Sandra Douglass Morgan on her historic hire as team president and are thrilled to welcome her to the Raiders family. Sandra brings impressive leadership experience to the organization and we are delighted to work with her. her as we continue to build a championship-caliber culture and the team,” the statement read.
Morgan’s husband, Don, played with the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals from 1999 to 2002.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
