Amid Brian Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit, the NFL is updating its diversity policy, which requires teams to hire a minority candidate or woman as an offensive assistant, the league announced Monday.
The NFL announced the policy change at its annual owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla.
“From this season all 32 clubs will hire one diverse person [female or a member of an ethnic or racial minority] to serve as an offensive assistant,” the new policy reads.
The league reimburses teams for up to two years on the assistant’s salary. Why the mandate that the coach works on offense?
“In recent years, head coaches have had predominantly offensive backgrounds,” the mandate says.
NFL (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Rooney Rule criticized as ineffective
The league’s Rooney rule, which addresses the lack of minority representation in NFL front office and head coaching positions, has been criticized as ineffective. Flores accused several teams of conducting “sham” interviews with him to meet the requirement that teams consider minority candidates. He claims that the New York Giants and Denver Broncos had no intention of hiring him when they agreed to interview him for head coaching jobs in recent years.
The league has also been criticized for not providing enough lower-level opportunities for minority candidates that could ultimately lead to a head coaching position. Monday’s resolution appears to be a direct response to this criticism.
The NFL currently employs five head coaches from minorities among its 32 teams – Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders, Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Lovie Smith of the Houston Texans, Robert Saleh of the New York Jets and Mike McDaniels of the Miami Dolphins.
The NFL announces more diversity initiatives
In addition to updating the Rooney Rule, the NFL announced the creation of a Diversity Advisory Committee of outside experts to advise on the league’s hiring practices and other diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The league also released a statement addressing its “commitment to increasing diversity among owners.” The NFL has never had a black-majority franchise owner.
The story goes on
“NFL member clubs support the important goal of increasing ownership diversity,” the statement said. “Accordingly, in evaluating a potential member club ownership group under the League’s policies, membership will be viewed as a positive and significant factor if the group includes diverse individuals who would have a significant equity interest and interest in the club, including as to act as controlling owner of the club.”
The Denver Broncos are for sale this offseason. Black TV mogul Byron Allen announced an offer to buy the Broncos in February.