The Las Vegas Raiders have chosen Sandra Douglass Morgan to be the team’s new president, according to a letter sent to team employees that was obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Morgan most recently served as the chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) from 2019 through 2021.
In the letter, Morgan said that she is “thrilled” to join the team during what she called “one of the most exciting times in the history” of the storied franchise.
The move is especially noteworthy for the NFL, as Morgan is now the first black woman to be appointed as a team president in the league’s history. She was also the first black woman to lead the NGCB.
The team’s presidency had been vacant since May, after interim president Dan Ventrelle was fired—Ventrelle has since accused the team of wrongful termination, saying he was let go after notifying the NFL of what he called a hostile work environment within the organization.
That incident is a symbol of the Raiders’ overall turbulence in recent months, which has resulted in the departure of numerous longtime executives for various reasons.
The team is also involved in a lawsuit filed by former head coach Jon Gruden, who has accused the NFL of orchestrating a “malicious” campaign to destroy his career and reputation, most notably by publishing offensive emails Gruden had sent previously. The defamed coach was in the middle of a record 10-year, $100 million contract with the Raiders when he was ousted in October of last year.
Morgan addressed these concerns head-on in her introduction, affirming that she is “not here to avoid or sidestep problems or concerns that need to be addressed.”
“I’ve given long and thoughtful consideration to joining you, and I’ve done so because I believe in the promise of the Raiders,” Morgan wrote. “Most importantly, I believe in your core values of integrity, community, and commitment to excellence. I will expect you to embody those and to hold me accountable to doing the same.”
Morgan has an extensive resume in the Silver State—in addition to her time as head of the NGCB, she also served on the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the Nevada Gaming Commission. She was also the first black woman to serve as a city attorney in the state, when she did so in North Las Vegas from 2013 to 2016.
During her tenure with the NGCB, Morgan championed regulations for cashless wagering and ushered in new anti-discrimination policies for the state’s operators.
