By Satyakam For most fans, Terry Pegula is known as the billionaire owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. But over the past year, his name has appeared in a very different context — a federal discrimination and retaliation lawsuit that pulled several powerful NFL figures into public view.
The case, filed by longtime NFL journalist Jim Trotter, never accused Pegula of mismanaging his teams. Instead, it became part of a broader legal challenge questioning how the NFL handles race, power, and accountability at the highest levels. While the lawsuit ultimately settled in late 2024, court filings and rulings along the way revealed details that kept the story alive well into 2025.
The Allegation Against Terry Pegula
At the center of the controversy was a statement attributed to Pegula by a witness cited in Trotter’s lawsuit. According to the filing, Pegula allegedly said in 2020:
“If the Black players don’t like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is.”
Pegula responded quickly and forcefully. He denied ever making the remark, calling the allegation “absolutely false” and saying he was “horrified” to be associated with such language.
No court ever ruled on whether the statement was made. The claim remained an allegation, not a finding of fact.
What Jim Trotter Alleged About Jerry Jones
The lawsuit also named Jerry Jones, but the nature of the claim was different.
Unlike the Pegula allegation, Trotter said he personally heard Jones respond to a question about the lack of Black executives in the NFL by saying:
“If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire.”
Jones disputed Trotter’s account and challenged the context in which the comment was described. As with Pegula, the court did not rule on the truth of the statement itself.
The Case Against the NFL — And the Key Legal Turning Point
Trotter’s lawsuit targeted the National Football League directly, arguing that he faced retaliation after repeatedly raising concerns about racial inequity inside NFL Media.
In May 2024, the case reached a critical moment. A federal judge dismissed several of Trotter’s claims but allowed the retaliation claim to move forward.
That mattered.
It meant the court found Trotter had presented enough evidence that the NFL may have punished him for speaking up — a claim serious enough to survive dismissal and potentially reach a jury. At that point, the league faced the risk of internal emails, testimony, and executive depositions becoming public.
Months later, the NFL chose to settle.
The October 2024 Settlement Explained
In October 2024, Trotter and the NFL reached a confidential settlement.
What became public was the structure of the resolution:
- The NFL agreed to fund a journalism scholarship program through the Work, Plan, Pray Foundation
- The foundation is named after a mantra used by the late NFL star Junior Seau, whom Trotter covered closely during his career
- The program launched at Howard University, Trotter’s alma mater
By early 2025, reports confirmed that the initiative began with $300,000 in funding, designed to support the program for five years.
The total settlement amount was never disclosed.
Why This Lawsuit Still Matters
Even after the settlement, the case continues to resonate for several reasons:
- It survived a major legal test. The retaliation claim clearing dismissal gave the lawsuit real leverage.
- It involved the NFL’s most powerful figures. Owners are rarely named in federal filings of this kind.
- It shifted the conversation. The focus moved from individual comments to systemic responses when employees raise concerns.
The lawsuit ended without a trial, but not without impact.
Where Things Stand Now
As of 2025, the legal case is closed. No findings of liability were made against Pegula, Jones, or the NFL. But the paper trail — filings, rulings, and sworn statements — remains part of the public record.
For the NFL, the settlement avoided a courtroom showdown.
For Trotter, it secured long-term support for future journalists.
And for owners like Pegula, it was a reminder that even indirect allegations can carry lasting public weight.
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