The League will review the rule to encourage the employment of more people from minority groups in high-responsibility positions
The NFL has extended the Rooney Rule to give more candidates in minority demographic groups the opportunity to become head coaches and reward the teams that develop them.
More interviews does not equate to more employees this season.
According to an analysis of candidates known to have been interviewed for a coaching vacancy this month, 11 were in the minority and 16 were white. Only two of the seven jobs were for minorities.
Some see it as progress, but most agree that there is still a long way to go.
“There is still work to be done in this area, no doubt,” the president said Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney II.
Houston Texans hired David Culley this week, making the 65-year-old assistant the league’s third head coach. New York Jets They previously hired Robert Saleh, the son of Lebanese immigrants and the first known NFL head coach who is a Muslim.
Culley and Saleh join Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Miami’s Brian Flores and Washington’s Ron Rivera as the league’s only minority head coaches. In a sport in which about 70% of players come from minority groups, there is a lack of diversity among head coaches.
Rooney says the league will review the rule named after his father, Dan Rooney, who was chairman of the NFL’s diversity committee.
“We haven’t made as much progress as we would have liked,” Rooney agreed. “But I would say that we have made some progress in terms of GM, which is encouraging. And then we will have to look at the coordinators to see how much progress we have made on this front. “
“I think last year we took a series of steps that I think will pay dividends over time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do more and look hard in this off-season.”
Two of the seven general manager vacancies were filled by minorities when Atlanta Falcons hired Terry Fontenot and Detroit Lions they signed Brad Holmes. He joins Andrew Berry of Cleveland and Chris Grier of Miami as the only black general managers in the league.
Maybe an executive growth will lead to more head coaches. In the end, the owners are the ones who make the decision, and 31 out of 32 are white. You have to convince them.
“I got this job simply because I was the best football coach they wanted in this situation and I happen to be African-American,” Culley said Friday. “I am just proud of this. I’m happy about that. And I hope that if I get this job for this reason, I’ll let others in this league see it … so be it. I am part of it and I am in favor of it “.
In November, the NFL implemented a resolution that rewards organizations with selection projects to develop minority coaches and directors to become head coaches, general managers, or team leaders of other clubs.
It was part of a seven-point mobility plan designed to improve opportunities.
In May, the NFL amended the Rooney Rule to provide that teams must interview at least two candidates from minority groups who are not associated with their own team for a head coaching vacancy. In addition, a candidate must be interviewed for a coordinator position, as well as for senior positions in the main office, including the role of general manager.