Coaching interviews delayed
Owners voted to push in-person head coaching interviews back one more week until after all divisional playoff games have been completed. The goal is to slow down the hiring process and increase diverse hiring.
The timeline for virtual interviews remains the same and interviews may take place earlier for internal candidates or those not working for a club or within the NFL.
“The data shows when you have a more intentional process, you end up with more diverse results,” NFL executive Dasha Smith said. “So that is really the goal here is to ultimately have a more inclusive and diverse, head coach, GM, senior leadership across the entire NFL but in particular we’ve been focusing on the head coach position.”
There’s no timeline for a decision on a fourth international game for 2024 – two games will be played in London and one in Germany – but O’Reilly said he expects an announcement in December or January.
Regarding a Super Bowl in London, O’Reilly said: “That is not a near-term focus of ours.”
Concussions reduced
The NFL says it experienced a sevenyear low in training camp concussions because of the use of the Guardian caps. Among players at the positions – offensive line, defensive line, tight ends, running backs, linebackers – who wore the protective head gear over their helmet, concussions were reduced by 46% over their three-year average. For positions who didn’t wear them, concussions increased by 50%.
“There really is a substantial benefit,” Miller said. “There certainly will be an active discussion about next steps with that as we move forward.”
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, said the next step would be to expand usage of Guardian cap to players at other positions.
“Where we think this is going is not about the Guardian cap, per se, but about the better design of helmet,” Sills said. “What can we learn from what the Guardian cap has taught us and incorporate that into the design of the helmet. We’re already seeing that innovation take place. We’re seeing those conversations take place. We’re also seeing some additional types of helmet addons that are being developed. So I think you’re going to see this be an area for innovation over the next couple of seasons based on what we’re learning so far.”