The league will review the rule to encourage the hiring of more people from minority groups in positions of high responsibility
The NFL expanded the Rooney Rule to give more candidates from minority demographic groups the opportunity to become head coaches and reward the teams that develop them.
More interviews does not equate to more hiring this offseason.
According to an analysis of candidates who are known to have been interviewed for coaching vacancy this month, 11 were minority and 16 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 team ‘s chairman said on Thursday Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney II.
the Houston jeans they hired David Culley this week, making the 65-year-old assistant the third head coach in the league hired. the New York Jets they previously hired Robert Saleh, the son of Lebanese immigrants and the first NFL head coach known to be a Muslim.
Culley and Saleh join Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Miami’s Brian Flowers and Washington’s Ron Rivera as the league’s only minority head coaches. In a sport where around 70% of the players are from minority groups, the lack of diversity among the ranks of head coaches stands out.
Rooney says the league will review again the rule that bears the name of his father, Dan Rooney, who was chairman of the NFL’s diversity committee.
“We didn’t progress as much as we would have liked,” Rooney agreed. “But I would say we made some progress on the side of the general manager, which is encouraging. And then we’ll have to look alongside the coordinators to see how far we’ve come on that front.”
“I think last year we took a series of steps that I think over time are going to pay dividends, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do more, and we’ll look at that strongly this offseason.”
Two of the seven vacancies for general manager were filled by minority people when the Atlanta Falcons they hired Terry Fontenot and the Detroit Lions they signed Brad Holmes. They join Andrew Berry of Cleveland and Chris Grier of Miami as the only black general managers in the league.
Maybe an increase in executives will lead to more head coaches. In the end, the owners are the ones making the decision and 31 of the 32 are white. You have to convince them.
“I got this job simply because he was the best football coach they wanted in this situation, and it turns out I’m African American,” Culley said Friday. “I’m proud of that. I’m happy about it. And I hope that if I got this job for that reason let others in this league see it … so be it. I’m part of that and I’m in favor of that. “.
In November, the NFL implemented a resolution that rewards organizations with draft picks to develop coaches of minority and executive groups who become head coaches, general managers, or team president of other clubs.
It was part of a seven-point mobility plan designed to improve opportunities.
Last May, the NFL amended the Rooney Rule to stipulate that teams must interview at least two candidates from minority groups not associated with their own team for a head coaching vacancy. In addition, a candidate must be interviewed for coordinator position, as well as for senior positions in the main office, including the role of general manager.