NFL to expand ‘Rooney Rule’ job interview requirements
NFL teams must interview at least two minority candidates when looking to fill a head coaching position under a resolution passed on Tuesday by team owners that is designed to increase diversity, the league said.
Under the expanded Rooney Rule, clubs will also be required to interview at least one minority candidate for coordinator positions and at least one external minority candidate for the senior football operations or general manager position.
The Rooney Rule — named for late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the former chairman of the NFL’S workplace diversity committee — previously had been applied to co-ordinator openings only on an informal basis. The league had instructed teams to comply as a best practice, but there were no penalties for non-compliance.
The owners on Tuesday failed to pass a resolution that would have rewarded teams that hired minorities with improved positions in the NFL Draft.
Critics had said the proposal could have led to tensions between coaches across the league and could give off the perception that someone was hired to improve the team’s draft prospects and not because he or she was the best candidate for the job.
The changes and proposals come after only one minority head coach, Washington’s Ron Rivera, was hired this off-season.
No African-american head coaches were hired.
Four of the 32 teams have minority head coaches: Rivera with the Redskins, Mike Tomlin with the Steelers, Anthony Lynn with the Los Angeles Chargers and Brian Flores with the Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins’ Chris Grier and the Cleveland Browns’ Andrew Berry are the league’s only African-american general managers.