Seth Udinski, FISM News
As the NFL is preparing for championship weekend, several off-field developments have arisen, including an update on the allegations of abuse and dysfunction in the Washington Football Team.
Two new coaches have been hired in the past several days. Early on Thursday, the Denver Broncos announced they are hiring former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach. The 38-year-old Hackett will replace Vic Fangio in his first opportunity to coach an NFL team.
Later on Thursday, the Chicago Bears hired 51-year-old Matt Eberflus to replace former head coach Matt Nagy. Eberflus was the former defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts, and he is also taking his first head coaching opportunity in his career.
In an update to a development previously explored on FISM News, the controversy surrounding the Washington Football Team continues. Sources indicate that 40 former employees will testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Feb. 3, specifically bringing light to the allegations of sexual abuse within the organization.
The former employees include marketing members, cheerleaders, interns, and production personnel.
Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, two attorneys representing the former employees, said,
Our clients look forward to sharing their experiences directly with the committee. Critical questions need to be asked and answered to WFT’s pervasive culture of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the NFL’s decision to allow owner Daniel Snyder to consolidate his power and ownership interest rather than take appropriate disciplinary action against him.
Committee chair Rep. Carol Maloney said,
For more than twenty years, employees of the Washington Football Team were subjected to sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and other misconduct. It is becoming increasingly clear that not only did the team fail to protect employees, but the NFL went to great lengths to prevent the truth about this toxic work environment from coming to light. The NFL’s decision to cover up these abuses raises serious questions about its commitment to setting workplace standards that keep employees safe. I commend these victims for their bravery in coming forward to share their stories.
This testimony will come on the heels of the controversy surrounding Jon Gruden, who was forced out of his coaching job in Las Vegas earlier this season. Gruden attests that the league targeted him while simultaneously ignoring the problems in the Washington Football Team.