League amends Rooney Rule
Changes add front office roles
The NFL instituted some policy changes to the Rooney Rule designed to further enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring practices.
The rule has been expanded to require teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for general manager/executive of football operations positions, and all coordinator roles. Beforehand, the requirement was to interview one minority from outside a team for openings in those positions.
Openings for head coaches already fell under such requirements.
NFL clubs now must conduct an in-person interview for at least one external minority candidate for any head coach or general manager opening. All coordinator and assistant general manager candidates can be interviewed virtually.
“League and club leadership must reflect America’s diversity,” Jonathan Beane, the NFL’s senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer said in a statement.
“We’ve been discussing these improvements because they will move the game and business of football toward inclusivity — and make league and club workplaces welcoming for everyone.”
Washington
Asked about the head coaching vacancy at the University of Southern California that he previously expressed interest in if it ever existed, Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio joked about Mike Tomlin’s answer to the same question earlier this week. “I’m gonna channel some Mike Tomlin right now,” Del Rio said. “Did he shut it down, or what? Mike’s beautiful. So, yeah. I feel really good about being the defensive coordinator in the NFL, and I like my job.”
Broncos
Reciever Jerry Jeudy returns to the Denver lineup against Washington after recovering from a high right ankle sprain he suffered on opening weekend.
Elsewhere
The NAACP sent a letter to the players associations in five professional sports asking players to reconsider signing with teams in Texas because of recent laws passed in the state. In a letter signed by NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson that was sent to the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and WNBA players associations, the organization pointed to recent laws on abortions, voting rights and mask mandates during the coronavirus pandemic as reasons to avoid joining teams in Texas.