NFL expands Rooney Rule to boost diversity, backs off incentive proposal
Brady conducts two-hour workout with new NFL teammates
LOS ANGELES: 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.
Clubs must also include minorities or female applicants in the interview processes for a variety of senior level front office positions including club president as well as senior executives in communications, finance, human resources and legal.
The NFL said the league will also adhere to the requirements. “The NFL is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which I believe is critical to our continued success,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.
“While we have seen positive strides in our coaching ranks over the years aided by the Rooney Rule, we recognize, after the last two seasons, that we can and must do more,” he said.
“The policy changes made today are bold and demonstrate the commitment of our ownership to increase diversity in leadership positions throughout the league.” The Rooney Rule, named after former NFL diversity committee chairman Dan Rooney, was originally introduced in the NFL in 2003 and obliged clubs to interview at least one minority candidate for every senior head coach role.
Of the five head-coaching vacancies this offseason, just one went to a minority candidate and only three of the past 20 head-coaching openings were filled by a person of color, according to NFL.com.
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.
Meanwhile, six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady worked out with his new Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates for about two hours in early morning drills at a Tampa prep school Tuesday.
Brady, who spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots before signing with the Bucs in March, was shown in photographs by the Tampa Bay Times wearing a helmet and shoulder pads with an orange jersey, although not one bearing his traditional number 12.
According to the newspaper, Brady displayed solid arm strength and directed many of his new receivers, walking through routes at times to show where on the field he liked having his targets make cuts in the 7-9 a.m. session.
Buccaneers receivers running deep routes and taking passes from Brady included Mike Evans and Scotty Miller, with running back Dare Ogunbowale, tight ends Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard and quarterbacks Ryan Griffin and Blaine Gabbert also on hand.
Brady, who signed a two-year NFL deal worth $50 million with Tampa Bay, took shotgun snaps from Bucs center Ryan Jensen before launching his spirals in humid conditions as he tries to learn coach Bruce Arians’ offensive schemes.
NFL training facilities have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic but that didn’t stop Brady from starting to develop a rhythm with his new teammates on an artificial turf field at Berkeley Prep, closed to students due to the virus outbreak.
After the workout, Brady spent about half an hour with his new teammates sitting in the stands and building chemistry he hopes will pay off with a trip to the Super Bowl, set for next February in Tampa.
Brady is set to play in a charity made-for-television golf event Sunday with former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and US golf stars Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. —Agencies