Former NFL Media journalist Jim Trotter filed a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the league in federal court in New York City Tuesday.

Trotter is accusing the NFL of refusing to address what he calls longstanding institutional discrimination and said his contract was not renewed because he repeatedly voiced concerns regarding equity and racial injustice.

The complaint also alleges that back in 2020 on a Zoom call with NFL Media, a reporter said they had a conversation with Buffalo Bills and Sabres co-owner Terry Pegula about players protesting racial injustice. 

The complaint said that the reporter quoted Pegula as saying, “If the Black players don’t like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is.”

Pegula responded to the allegation in a statement, saying:

"The statement attributed to me in Mr. Trotter’s complaint is absolutely false. I am horrified that anyone would connect me to an allegation of this kind. Racism has no place in our society and I am personally disgusted that my name is associated with this complaint.”

Trotter said the concerns he raised with league executives, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, regarding alleged comments made by Pegula and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the lack of diversity among NFL Media employees fell on deaf ears.

Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations.

“The NFL has claimed it wants to be held accountable regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. I tried to do so, and it cost me my job,” Trotter said in a statement released by his law firm, Wigdor. “I’m filing this lawsuit because I can’t complain about things that are wrong if I’m unwilling to fight for what is right.”

Trotter is Black and now works for The Athletic after previously being a reporter for the NFL Network, before his contract was not renewed in March.

The NFL issued a statement disputing Trotter’s allegations.

“We share Jim Trotter’s passion for quality journalism created in and supported by a diverse and inclusive environment,” the NFL said in part. “We take his concerns seriously, but strongly dispute his specific allegations, particularly those made against his dedicated colleagues at NFL Media.”

The NFL said Trotter’s contract was not renewed as a result of business decisions made to address “a challenging economy and a changing media environment.”

The statement added that 58% of full-time employees hired in the media group in 2022 were people of color, three of the most recent senior hires at NFL Media are people of color, eight of nine of the NFL Media’s most recent on-air hires were Black and two diverse reporters were promoted to senior positions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.