Historic NFL Matchup: Panthers and Raiders Led by Women Presidents Face Off9
In a groundbreaking moment for the NFL, the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders squared off on Sunday, September 22, 2024, marking the first game in league history between two teams led by female presidents.
At Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Panthers President Kristi Coleman and Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan commemorated the occasion with a pregame exchange of commemorative footballs. Both women were appointed to their roles in 2022—Coleman in February and Morgan in July.
Morgan made history as the first Black woman to serve as an NFL team president. With over two decades of experience in the gaming, legal, and corporate sectors, she now leads the Raiders in her hometown.
Coleman, who has been with the Panthers organization for eight years, was promoted to team president in February 2022. She has risen through the ranks from controller to director of finance, to vice president and CFO, to president during her tenure in Carolina.
The game ended with the Panthers defeating the Raiders 36–22.
This historic matchup underscores the NFL’s ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within its leadership ranks. As Morgan aptly stated, “It’s great to be able to celebrate each other pregame,” highlighting the significance of this milestone in the league’s history.
Both Morgan and Coleman are featured in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “Women in Football” display, serving as inspirations for future generations of women in sports leadership.
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