NFL holds seminar on diversity
Minority coaches and front office executives from NFL teams participated in seminars, workshops and networking opportunities Monday in Atlanta as the league made its latest attempt to address its diversity issues.
The event, which the league called its inaugural Coach and Front Office Accelerator, included about 60 head coaching and general manager candidates from the 32 NFL teams and came a day ahead of Tuesday’s regularly scheduled owners’ meeting.
“I don’t have all the answers,” Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Marcus Brady said. “I think this is a step in the right direction, this opportunity. We’ll see how we build from here and go from here. But I do think this event is a great step in the direction to be able to build relationships within the NFL circle.”
The seminar took place as the NFL continues to grapple with its diversity practices in the aftermath of a disappointing hiring cycle for head coaches. The league and teams are facing a racial-discrimination lawsuit filed by former Dolphins coach
Brian Flores.
Two of the NFL’s 10 head coaching vacancies this offseason were filled by Black coaches. The Houston Texans hired
Lovie Smith and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers promoted Todd Bowles, who joined the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin as the league’s only Black head coaches.
ETC.
Soccer: Hertha Berlin took its final chance to clinch Bundesliga survival by winning at Hamburger SV 2-0 in the second leg of their relegation-promotion playoff. Goals from Hertha captain Dedryck Boyata and Marvin Plattenhardt in each half overturned Ludovit Reis’ winner for Hamburg in the first leg and ensured Hertha remained in the top division by winning
2-1 on aggregate.
Hockey: Denmark beat Canada for the first time in a 3-2 upset win at the world ice hockey championship, while the United States slumped in a loss to the Czech Republic. Sebastian Dahm’s 29 saves helped Denmark to hold on to stun Canada and move into contention for a place in the quarterfinals. The United States must wait to qualify for the quarterfinals after a bruising 1-0 loss to the Czechs in both teams’ second-to-last game of group play. Matej Blumel scored on a breakaway at 7:53 of the first period.