The Washington Football Team have hired former NFL running back Jason Wright as its president, making him the first black person to be appointed to the position in the sport’s history.
Wright, who retired in 2011 before completing an MBA at the University of Chicago, will lead all the team’s “business divisions, including operations, finance, sales, and marketing”.
The Washington franchise is undergoing a major transformation after retiring its Redskins name and logo last month, with the nickname widely criticised as racist.
“This team, at this time, is an ideal opportunity for me,” Wright said. “The transformation of the Washington Football Team is happening across all aspects of the organisation 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.”
Wright, who spent seven seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Brown and Arizona Cardinals, will report directly to Washington team owner Dan Snyder.
“If I could custom design a leader for this important time in our history, it would be Jason,” said Washington team owner Daniel Synder. “His experience as a former player, coupled with his business acumen, gives him a perspective that is unrivalled in the league.”
At 38, Wright is also the youngest team president in NFL history.
