Super Bowl Week is here! The guys discuss the game in Tampa this weekend. Brady going for his 7th championship is huge for sports, not just the NFL. It will be great to see African American coaches in power, Todd Bowles, Byron Leftwich and Eric Bieniemy, do their thing on the sidelines. We will see two different generational quarterbacks go at it Sunday. That's a rarity.
Natara Holloway, NFL VP of Football Strategy & Business Development
Discusses the initiatives the league is building with HBCUs. This weekend's event are a part of efforts to strengthen relationships with and engage HBCUs year-round. This Saturday, they've partnered with EA Sports to host a Madden NFL 21 & HBCU Tournament. The league is always looking for ideas and will find ways to implement them. Natara goes in detail about how the tournament will run and the money that can be won. Gamers will love. Down the road there will be scholarships announced as well as other initiatives that cannot be announced as of yet. There isn't an off-season, they get right to work a week after Super Bowl 55.
Paul Tagliabue, Former NFL Commissioner, Member R.I.S.E. Board of Directors
Discusses Champions of Change, a virtual experience RISE has built for Super Bowl 55.Paul remembers players being empowered during the Civil Rights movement in the 60s. Players have the ability today to utilize their platforms unlike the players in the past. RISE's mission is to educate on how to be an advocate and then that will teach empowerment to make change. Bill Walsh became an advocate for getting African Americans opportunities, starting with guys on his staff. Paul is glad to see Andy Reid do the same thing for Eric Bieniemy. Rewarding people for developing talent is important. Talks about threatening to move the Super Bowl out of Arizona if they didn't recognize MLK's legacy almost 30 years ago. Athletes in a sense are part-time activists. Once they retire, they'll be full-time activists. Key thing going forward is to be prepared to change. Talks about handing Tom Brady his first Super Bowl trophy.