The NFL wasn’t and is still isn’t a majority black business zone as a result, there haven’t been a lot of black NFL owners but all that is changing.
History is being made in the NFL from the field and boardroom.
It all started in 2009 when Venus and Serena Williams bought an equity stake in the Miami Dolphins, making them the first Black owners of an NFL franchise.
There’s other additional black minority team owners, including Warrick Dunn (Atlanta Falcons); Eric Holoman (Washington Commanders); John Stallworth (Pittsburgh Steelers); and Condoleeza Rice (Denver Broncos).
Below is a list filled with various trailblazers across entertainment, sports, and business.
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Venus and Serena Williams
Kicking things off are trailblazers Venus and Serena Williams, who made history as the first Black women to become minority owners in the NFL.
The two sisters became minority owners in 2009 when the team was reportedly worth $1.02 billion, per Statista.
According to People, Venus said at the time, “I am honored to be a partner in the Miami Dolphins franchise and thankful to owner Stephen Ross for allowing Serena and me to be part of Miami Dolphins history.”
Serena added, “I am so excited to be part of such a renowned organization. Having spent so much of my childhood in the area, being involved with a staple of Miami culture is a huge honor.
We look forward to many championships and much success together with the Miami Dolphins.”
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson, who now has five teams under his portfolio, also snagged ownership in the NFL.
He participated in an ownership group led by Josh Harris, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, to bid for the team in May 2023 in a deal reportedly valued at $6.05 billion, the highest for a North American professional sports franchise, according to an article published by AFROTECH.
Lewis Hamilton
With an interest in seeing greater representation in team ownership, Lewis Hamilton, a Formula One world champion, became co-owner of the Denver Broncos ownership group in August 2022.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the @ Broncos story!!
Honored to work with a world-class team and serve as an example of the value of more diverse leadership across all sports.”
Mellody Hobson
Mellody Hobson is the president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments, and she was previously the chairwoman of DreamWorks Animation.
She also worked as the vice chair of the Starbucks Corporation board of directors in 2018, and she was promoted to non-executive chair in 2021, becoming the first Black woman to chair an S&P 500 (Standard and Poor’s 500) company.
Before Lewis joined the Denver Broncos as a co-owner, Mellody Hobson was already an established co-owner of the club.
She had joined the ownership group in June 2022, when its agreement to buy the team was valued at $4.65 billion.
Will Packer
Also on the list is film producer Will Packer, who most recently stepped into team ownership in the NFL in May 2024. Joining the likes of Rosalind Brewer, Rashaun Williams, and Dominique Dawes in the ownership of the Atlanta Falcons.
