The National Football League has filled its newly created vice president of communications position with President Bill Clinton’s former White House press secretary.
Joe Lockhart was hired to provide “insulation for Commissioner Roger Goodell” over how he has handled recent league scandals, including the New England Patriots’ deflated footballs and domestic violence among players.
Lockhart advised Secretary of State John Kerry during his unsuccessful 2004 campaign and later worked under Clinton from 1998 to 2000, advising the president in the administration’s post-Lewinsky years. He has since jumped between the Glover Park Group and Facebook.
Cynthia Hogan, former counsel to Vice President Joe Biden and deputy assistant to President Obama, was promoted to executive vice president of public policy and government affairs.
Former White House press secretaries from the Clinton administration praised the NFL for the hire. Jake Siewert called it a “good move.”
Good move by @NFL Welcome to NYC @joelockhart cc: @feldmike @BrianWSteel https://t.co/xjqK5NOZUb
— Jake Siewert (@jakeon10thst) January 19, 2016
Good move by @NFL Welcome to NYC @joelockhart cc: @feldmike @BrianWSteel https://t.co/xjqK5NOZUb
— Jake Siewert (@jakeon10thst) January 19, 2016
Both will report to NFL Chief Operating Officer Tod Leiweke.
