Ed Stack
Ed Stack is best known as the driving force behind Dick's Sporting Goods' transformation into the dominant U.S. sporting goods retailer, and for his high-profile decision in 2018 to pull assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines from all Dick's stores following the Parkland, Florida school shooting — a move that cost the company an estimated $250 million in sales but earned Stack widespread recognition as a CEO willing to act on principle over profit. He took over the company his father Richard Stack founded, growing it from a handful of stores into a publicly traded national chain with hundreds of locations and billions in annual revenue. Stack served as CEO of Dick's Sporting Goods for decades before transitioning to Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, the company expanded aggressively, invested in private-label brands, and navigated the shift to omnichannel retail. Dick's has also been a significant advertiser and sports marketing player, sponsoring youth sports leagues and partnering with major athletic brands. Stack's gun policy decision became a landmark moment in corporate America's relationship with social issues and brand values. He authored the memoir 'It's How We Play the Game' (2019), detailing his life, the company's growth, and the reasoning behind his gun policy stance. Stack has been a vocal advocate on gun safety and has testified before Congress on the issue.
Last updated Oct 23, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment · Connections updated Oct 26, 2026
AI-drafted from public sources1 source cited
- Years in industry
- 40 years
Bio
Ed Stack is best known as the driving force behind Dick's Sporting Goods' transformation into the dominant U.S. sporting goods retailer, and for his high-profile decision in 2018 to pull assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines from all Dick's stores following the Parkland, Florida school shooting — a move that cost the company an estimated $250 million in sales but earned Stack widespread recognition as a CEO willing to act on principle over profit. He took over the company his father Richard Stack founded, growing it from a handful of stores into a publicly traded national chain with hundreds of locations and billions in annual revenue. Stack served as CEO of Dick's Sporting Goods for decades before transitioning to Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, the company expanded aggressively, invested in private-label brands, and navigated the shift to omnichannel retail. Dick's has also been a significant advertiser and sports marketing player, sponsoring youth sports leagues and partnering with major athletic brands. Stack's gun policy decision became a landmark moment in corporate America's relationship with social issues and brand values. He authored the memoir 'It's How We Play the Game' (2019), detailing his life, the company's growth, and the reasoning behind his gun policy stance. Stack has been a vocal advocate on gun safety and has testified before Congress on the issue.
Career
Executive ChairmanCurrent
Roles with a cited source. All linked roles are in the Roles tab.
Expertise & education
Expertise
Education
- St. John Fisher College
Speaking topics
Recognition
Notable achievements
- Grew Dick's Sporting Goods into the largest sporting goods retailer in the United States
- Made the high-profile decision in 2018 to permanently remove assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines from all Dick's stores following the Parkland school shooting
- Published memoir 'It's How We Play the Game' (2019), a bestseller detailing his leadership philosophy and the company's history
- Testified before the U.S. Congress on gun safety legislation
Publications
- It's How We Play the Game (memoir, 2019)