The NFL will require teams to interview more minority candidates for coaching positions.
According to a Wednesday report from Tom Pelissero, the league updated the Rooney Rule and will now require teams to interview two external minority candidates for head coaching jobs. Teams will also be required to interview an external minority candidate for coordinator jobs. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Previously, teams only had to interview one minority candidate for head coaching positions.
The NFL is immediately instituting changes to the Rooney Rule, requiring clubs interview at least 2 external minority candidates for head coach openings and 1 minority candidate for any coordinator job, I’m told. That’s on top of two resolutions up for vote @JimTrotter_NFL noted.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 18, 2020
Teams must interview 1 external minority candidate for senior football ops/GM jobs, too. And clubs and the league office must now include minorities and/or female applicants for senior-level positions, including club president. All effective after virtual league meeting tomorrow.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 18, 2020
It’s unclear right now if the proposal to boost draft picks for hiring minority candidates is still on the table or not.
Overall, there’s nothing wrong with the changes, but it also shouldn’t matter at the end of the day. The NFL is about winning.
Here we discuss the widespread reaction to the proposed resolution to incentivize the hiring of minority head coaches and football execs, as well as the mischaracterization that the measures are part of the Rooney Rule. pic.twitter.com/cET8lP4Kp0
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) May 18, 2020
I refuse to believe NFL teams will pass on winning minority coaches because of racism. I simply refuse to believe that will ever happen in 2020 in the NFL.
If a team passes on a great minority coach, he’ll get scooped up by another squad, and that’ll give the team who hires him a competitive advantage.
Had a chance to discuss where the diversity resolution for head coaches and GMs originated – and how another resolution that’s being overshadowed could actually be more impactful – with my NFL Network colleague and Howard U brutha, @wyche89, today on NFL Now. pic.twitter.com/r8jQxHN9in
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) May 18, 2020
Anyone who thinks NFL teams are going to lose an edge because of the race of a coach is kidding themselves. In sports, the cream rises to the top.
If you can win games, then you’ll stick around. It doesn’t matter what your race is. If you win, there’ll always be a job for you. That’s just a fact.
According to @JimTrotter_NFL there is a #NFL proposal trying to incentivize hiring minority coaching & GM candidates by rewarding teams with improved draft slots. #Chargers HC Anthony Lynn told @ZachGelb, “Sometimes you can do the wrong thing while trying to do the right thing.” pic.twitter.com/EWGxJ0B005
— CBS Sports Radio (@CBSSportsRadio) May 16, 2020
Let us know in the comments what you think about the updates.