Ex-Jaguars digital director says club fired him after bias complaint

The dispute the complaint describes will read as familiar to anyone who owns discipline decisions. In August 2024, the filing says, his supervisor proposed a lighter “Memo to File” for a White social media manager’s performance and behavioral concerns, while suggesting a Black specialist be placed on a more serious performance improvement plan, or PIP – a formal disciplinary plan. He objected, the complaint says, and argued both employees should be judged by the same standard.

After that, the complaint alleges, the scrutiny shifted to him. His 2024 year-end score fell to 2.0 out of 5. The filing says he was marked down in the “Respect” category and on his “ability to articulate,” and links that criticism to a Microsoft Teams message he sent a colleague. He filed a written rebuttal with the club’s senior HR leader that November.

The pattern continued into 2025, according to the filing. He alleges he was cut out of a key NFL draft chat in April and replaced by a White subordinate who reported to him – the same week his platforms ranked No. 1 among NFL clubs for follower growth and video views.

On April 28, 2025, the complaint says, he told a senior marketing executive that the department was crediting White employees’ complaints and holding Black staff to a tougher line. He contrasted that, the filing states, with the club’s failure to discipline a White manager who allegedly told the director’s team to “suck it” during a meeting.

Seven days later, the Jaguars fired him. The complaint says a chief operating officer cited “six months of problems,” and that the club’s chief legal officer told him the club wanted him to “feel like you have the opportunity to grow and work with the people you like.” He had never been placed on a PIP or given a written warning, the filing says. The White manager at the center of the discipline dispute was retained and promoted, according to the complaint.