The decision to hire key women into leadership positions comes amid a controversy that is threatening the values and integrity of the league. Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punched his then-fiancee unconscious in an elevator and was initially suspended for only two games. The light punishment prompted a national outcry, and only after a graphic video of the incident was released did Goodell reverse course and suspend Rice from the league indefinitely. Yet Rice is by no means the first player to be charged with domestic violence: In the last two years, police have arrested at least 14 NFL players for violence against women.
Why does it take a full-blown crisis for organizations to bring in women to key leadership positions? The answer is a complicated one, but it is perhaps rooted in the stereotype that women don’t take risks. As the NFL works to restore its image as a family-friendly organization worthy of female fans, the last thing it wants is to bring in risk takers who could make the problem worse. Instead, they hire women who they believe can manage the crisis in a calm and effective manner.