NFL Fines Former Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson $2.75M For Workplace Misconduct

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Thursday that former Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has been fined $2.75 million after the allegations made against him were substantiated by the league.

This money will go to support organizations addressing race and gender-based issues and fund league-wide workplace training.

Richardson has already sold the team to David Tepper and he stepped down and removed himself from day-to-day operations shortly after the news broke of his workplace conduct.

The investigation was conducted by former U.S. Attorney and SEC Chairman Mary Jo White, who released the following statement:

“The findings and recommendations that I have shared with the Commissioner are the product of an extensive review, including interviews with club executives, current and former employees, analysis of documents, electronic records, and other sources of information. I particularly appreciate the work of the club employees in assessing the need for enhancing the club’s workplace policies, procedures, and training and implementing appropriate changes.”

Here are the specific findings from White’s investigation:

• First, the review identified each of the allegations that has been publicly reported as well as similar matters that have not been the subject of public discussion.
• Second, while the investigation was not limited to the matters that have been publicly reported, and did not seek to confirm or reject the details of each specific allegation made regarding Mr. Richardson, it did substantiate the claims that have been made, and identified no information that would either discredit the claims made or that would undermine the veracity of the employees who have made those claims.
• Third, the improper conduct was limited to Mr. Richardson. No other employee of the Panthers is alleged to have engaged in such conduct, and the review did not discover evidence of similar conduct by other employees of the club.
• Fourth, the investigation also confirmed that the Panthers and its ownership did not report the claims, or any agreements to resolve those claims, to the League Office and that neither the League Office nor the club’s limited partners were aware of these matters until they became public in December of 2017.