• Loading stock data...
Friday, October 31, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here
Law

Jim Trotter, NFL Settle Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

  • Trotter had sought a jury trial and unspecified damages in his case. 
  • The NFL will contribute to a scholarship Trotter is establishing at Howard, his alma mater.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jim Trotter and his former employer, the NFL, have settled the reporter’s racial discrimination lawsuit.

He was let go by NFL Network after five years as a reporter in March 2023. Six months later, Trotter sued the league and its media arm, alleging he had been a victim of racial discrimination and retaliation.

Trotter is Black; his lawsuit claimed his contract wasn’t renewed because he repeatedly spoke out against the NFL’s lack of diversity in its offices, coaching ranks, and media arm. 

He released a statement on X announcing the settlement Wednesday. 

“The NFL and I have agreed to resolve my lawsuit,” Trotter said in the post. “I will be creating a scholarship foundation for journalism students at HBCUs and the NFL has agreed to make a donation in support thereof. I am proud to have the opportunity to help and support HBCU students achieve their goals and dreams, just as scholarships afforded me those opportunities when I was a student at Howard University.” 

The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the settlement.

Trotter had filed the case in the Southern District of New York. His 53-page complaint said his contract wasn’t renewed by the NFL Network partially because he challenged commissioner Roger Goodell on the league’s diversity track record at his past two Super Bowl press conferences before he was let go. 

“The N.F.L. has claimed it wants to be held accountable regarding diversity, equity and inclusion,” Trotter said in a statement at the time the suit was filed. “I tried to do so, and it cost me my job.”

Trotter also mentioned multiple NFL owners in his complaint, alleging the league “swept under the rug” comments made by Bills owner Terry Pegula and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. 

The suit alleged Pegula told an unnamed NFL Media reporter in 2020, “If the Black players don’t like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is.”

Trotter also claimed Jones said to him that same year that “If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire,” in response to Trotter asking about the lack of diversity in the upper ranks of NFL front offices. Both Jones and Pegula issued statements adamantly denying the comments, while an NFL spokesperson said the league investigated the Pegula comments and could not verify the unnamed reporter’s account. 

Despite the friction, Trotter expected his contract to be renewed. He cited Sandra Nunez, who handles the NFL Network’s on-air talent, in his complaint telling him she “could not envision any reason why his contract would not be renewed.” Nunez asked Trotter whether he wanted a bigger role in his next deal, according to the complaint. On March 24, Nunez notified Trotter’s agent that his contract wasn’t being renewed.

Trotter landed with The Athletic in April 2023 as a national columnist, but he did not cover the league while he was suing it. A spokesperson from The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Florida Gators linebacker Shemar James (6) tackles Georgia Bulldogs tight end Oscar Delp (4) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football matchup Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Florida Gators 34-20.

Florida-Georgia Rivalry Hits the Road—Still Nets Almost $10M Payouts

The annual rivalry game in Jacksonville is taking a two-year road trip.
Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

CBS Bets Big on Chiefs-Bills Rivalry As AFC Landscape Changes

Big viewership likely awaits the revival of the NFL rivalry.

NBA Season Opens With Best Ratings in 8 Years Despite Off-Court Scandals

It’s the first year of the NBA’s 11-year, $77 billion media deal.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.

Disney, YouTube Settle Suit Over Poached Exec With Deep ESPN Ties

A carriage dispute between Disney and YouTube remains ongoing.
FuboTV
October 29, 2025

Disney’s Fubo Deal Closes After DOJ Ends Antitrust Review

The deal creates the sixth-largest pay-TV company in the U.S.
Oct 25, 2025; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (8) before NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 Practice and Qualifying at Martinsville Speedway.
October 29, 2025

NASCAR Star Kyle Busch Sues Pacific Life Over $8.5M Insurance Scam

Busch says he lost $8.58 million from Pacific Life.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

TNT Sports is going all-in on college athletics—bringing fans closer and giving brands a powerful new way to connect.
October 29, 2025

Rozier’s Lawyer Says Missed 2023 Games Cost Him Shoe Money

Rozier had a Puma deal through the end of the 2022–23 season.
October 28, 2025

The $80 Million F1 ‘Crashgate’ Case Heads to Court

Massa placed second to Lewis Hamilton in the 2008 drivers’ championship.
Terry Rozier
October 24, 2025

NBA Strongly Denies Quietly Suspending Terry Rozier in 2023

Brian Windhorst appeared to walk back his comments Friday morning.
Rozier
October 23, 2025

Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups Will Fight Gambling Cases

Both disputed prosecutors’ versions of events Thursday night.