NFL starts initiative to help teams partner with businesses owned by minorities, women

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The National Football League announced a new initiative to help teams work with more minority- and women-owned companies.

The initiative, called NFL Source, aims for its 32 franchises to "standardize how the NFL and its partners support working with underrepresented businesses locally and nationally, year-round," the league said.

"NFL Source will expand the league's day-to-day procurement efforts and is designed to increase access, identify potential qualified partners and drive economic impact locally and nationally across the league and clubs – creating equitable processes to ensure underrepresented businesses have increased exposure and the ability to compete for and win viable league and club contracts," the league said on its website announcing the initiative. 

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NFL logo on the field at Nissan Stadium before the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 3, 2023, in Nashville. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

"NFL Source provides the league with an opportunity to reinvest funds back into the communities that our clubs and offices reside in and gain exposure to an increased number of businesses," Jonathan Beane, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at the NFL, said in a statement. "Doing business with the NFL can provide unparalleled exposure for businesses and boost local economic mobility."

The league will help teams find partners that are majority-owned by a minority, a woman, a person with disabilities, someone who is LGBTQ+ or a veteran.

Beane says that being involved in diversity, equity and inclusion "leads to higher