NFL senior VP/communications Katie Hill, the league’s top day-to-day PR executive for the past five years, will leave her role for a similar position at the N.Y. Times, the Times and the league confirmed.
Hill will become the Times’ senior vice president and global head of communications and external affairs, a newly created role that will oversee all communications efforts for the Times’ news and opinion sections, as well as The Athletic, Games, Cooking, Audio and NYT Co. corporate matters. She will report to Chief Communications and Brand Officer David Rubin.
Hill first came to the NFL in May 2021, after nearly four years as the head of communications for former President Barack Obama. Prior to that, she held a variety of roles in the political world, culminating with a stint as assistant White House press secretary in the finals years of Obama’s term.
Hill reports to Jeff Miller, executive VP/public affairs, policy and player health & safety initiatives.
“Katie did a terrific job and added a great deal to the NFL,” Miller said. “We have not decided on next steps.”
Hill has four direct reports: VP/communications Samantha Roth, VP/communications Alex Riethmiller, senior VP/communications Michael Signora and Chief Spokesman/VP of communications Brian McCarthy. In her role, Hill has mostly not been a public face of the league, instead developing strategy and managing operations for the department.
Hill’s tenure has been a relatively peaceful time for the NFL on the public relations front. Since 2021, the league has mostly avoided the five-alarm-fire style challenges of the 2010s such as the Ray Rice investigation, concussion litigation and broader debates around player safety, and the National Anthem protests. Insiders say Hill has played a role in helping the league avoid renewing fights with President Donald Trump in his return to the office and helping Commissioner Roger Goodell foster a more approachable and casual public image.
