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Broncos' Vic Fangio Says He Doesn't See Racism in NFL After George Floyd Killing

Rob Goldberg@TheRobGoldbergX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistJune 2, 2020

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio speaks after an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Denver. The NFL Draft is April 23-25, 2020. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, Fle)
Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said Tuesday he doesn't believe there is any racism in the NFL

The 61-year-old provided his thoughts in a Zoom press conference with reporters:

Michael Spencer @MichaelCBS4

Vic Fangio: “I don’t see racism at all in the NFL...if society reflected an NFL team we’d all be great.” @CBSDenver https://t.co/gV635jqgHy

"We're a league of meritocracy. You get what you earn," Fangio continued, per Andrew Mason of DNVR. "I don't see racism at all in the NFL. I don't see discrimination in the NFL. ... If society reflected an NFL team, we'd all be great."

Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic provided the coach's full statement:

Nicki Jhabvala @NickiJhabvala

Vic Fangio's full statement before opening his Zoom press conference today to questions: https://t.co/KFOqiuMsX3

The comments come amid nationwide protests calling for an end to racial injustice and police violence. 

The Broncos' official Twitter account posted messages from multiple players Tuesday, eight days after George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis.

The NFL has a lot of diversity among players, with minorities making up 72.6 percent of the league as of 2016, per The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport

There has been more discussion about the lack of people of color in coaching and leadership positions.

Going into 2020, there are only four minority head coaches in the NFL while only two—Miami Dolphins' Brian Flores and Washington Redskins' Ron Rivera—have been hired in the last two years out of 13 openings.

An NFL report on diversity inclusion showed only six men of color were hired in 2018-19 as a head coach, offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator out of 36 filled positions.

People of color represent 12.8 percent of team positions listed as vice president or above, per Richard Lapchick of ESPN. 

Fangio is heading into his second season as head coach of the Broncos after an extensive career in the NFL as an assistant, working as a defensive coordinator for 19 seasons across five organizations.