Will Packer become minority owner of Atlanta Falcons NFL franchise?

Will Packer, Dominique Dawes

Prince Williams/WireImage; Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; Fred Lee/Disney General entertainment content via Getty Images

The Atlanta Falcons are adding some notable names to their ownership.

The NFL franchise, led by chairman Arthur Blank, announces it will add four new people as sponsors, including a Hollywood insider and a legendary Olympian.

New backers include producer Will Packer, who has produced films like Girls trip, LongerAnd Think like a manas well as the (infamous, thanks to Will Smith) broadcast of the 2022 Oscars.

The group also includes Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes, former Walgreens and Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer and venture capitalist Rashaun Williams. NFL owners approved the new partners at a league meeting in Nashville on Tuesday.

“Roz, Dominique, Will and Rashaun are impressive leaders who have made an impact in various businesses, while building success stories, making a difference in the world around them and positively impacting people in a positive way. which aligns very well with our core values. ” Blank said in a statement. “Each brings a unique talent, experience and perspective to our ownership group. So I’m excited to have them on board as sponsors and to leverage their extensive expertise to find ways to continue building the Atlanta Falcons and make an even bigger difference in our community. .”

“The power of representation and equity should never be underestimated and as someone who has dedicated his career to creating diverse images, I truly appreciate Mr. Blank’s commitment to opening doors that have historically been closed to African Americans,” Packer added. “This investment represents not only the personal opportunity of a lifetime, but also the chance to demonstrate to generations to come that someone who looks like me can excel not only on the field, but also at the highest level in the exclusive ranks of NFL property.

“Throughout my life, making an impact on others has always been my driving force,” added Dawes. “What I accomplished in 1996, winning the first American team gold medal in gymnastics and being the first African American to win gold, in the city of Atlanta, gave me, to Today, the biggest platform to continually inspire others. The unique opportunity Mr. Blank has given me allows me to increase my positive impact on members of the Atlanta community, a place close to my heart. Having served as a global ambassador for the United States, I hope that my platform and influence as one of the few African American women to be a sponsor of the National Football League will have a broad impact in the NFL community and beyond.

The four new additions join a group of sponsors that currently includes Brian Barker, Ron Canakaris, Warrick Dunn, Doug Hertz, Alan Kestenbaum, Edward Mendel and Derek Smith.