Exit Discrimination in the NFL: A Duration Analysis of Career Length

Abstract

Exit discrimination is defined as the involuntary termination of employment due to racial characteristics holding productivity constant. We test for exit discrimination in the National Football League (NFL) using a panel study on career length. Our analysis focuses on six positional groups: defensive backs, defensive linemen, linebackers, running backs, tight ends and wide receivers. In our analysis, in addition to race, we include performance variables to determine their importance in determining career length. Using both parametric and semi-parametric hazard models, we find no evidence of exit discrimination in the NFL.