League will review rule to encourage hiring more people from minority groups in positions of high responsibility
The NFL has expanded the Rooney Rule to give more minority candidates the opportunity to become head coaches and reward the teams that develop them.
More interviews is not the same as more hires in this low season.
According to an analysis of candidates who are known to have been interviewed this month for a coaching vacancy, 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 undoubtedly still work to be done in this area,” said the president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney II.
The Houston Texans hired David Culley this week, forcing the 65-year-old assistant to hire the league’s third black head coach. The New York Jets They previously hired Robert Saleh, the son of Lebanese immigrants and the first known NFL head coach to be a Muslim.
Culley and Saleh join Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Miami’s Brian Flores and Washington’s Ron Rivera as the only minority coaches in the league. In a sport where about 70% of the players come from minority groups, the lack of diversity between the ranks of head coaches is striking.
Rooney says the league will revisit the rule named after his father, Dan Rooney, who chaired the NFL’s diversity committee.
“We were not making as much progress as we would have liked,” Rooney agreed. “But I would say we have made some progress on the GM side, which is encouraging. And then we will have to look to the coordinators to see how much progress we have made in that area ”.
“I think we took a series of measures last year that I think will pay dividends over time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do more, and we’re going to look hard at it off-season. “
Two of the seven general manager vacancies were filled by minority people when the Atlanta Falcons hired Terry Fontenot and the Detroit Lions they signed Brad Holmes. They join Andrew Berry from Cleveland and Chris Grier from Miami as the only black general managers in the league.
Maybe an executive surge will lead to more head coaches. Ultimately, it’s the owners 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 just happen to be African American,” Culley said Friday. “I am proud of that. I am happy with that. And I hope that if I get this job for that reason, I’ll show others in this league … so be it. I am part of it and I support it ”.
In November, the NFL implemented a resolution that rewards organizations with concept choices to develop minority coaches and executives into head coach, general manager, or team president of other clubs.
It was part of a seven-point mobility plan designed to improve the odds.
Last May, the NFL changed the Rooney rule to require teams to interview at least two minority candidates who are not associated with their own team for a head coach job opening. In addition, a candidate must be interviewed for a coordinator position, as well as for senior positions at headquarters, including the role of general manager.