The NFL is continuing to address its diversity in hiring practices, and yesterday, the league took new corrective measures to level the playing field.
For the 2022 season, each of the 32 NFL clubs now are required to hire a minority offensive assistant coach. According to the policy, the most significant change is that the offensive assistant coach hire can be either “a female or a member of an ethnic or racial minority.”
The decision was announced at the special league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, yesterday. The NFL’s Workplace Diversity Committee rolled out the changes to “strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the NFL’s Rooney Rule,” according to a statement from the NFL.
Rooney Rule Evolution
“Since the inception of the Rooney Rule, we have seen the rule adopted across business sectors and considered an industry best practice to increase diversity,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell via statement.
“The policy updates made today will bolster the current Rooney Rule requirements and are intended to create additional opportunities for diverse candidates to be identified, interviewed, and ultimately hired when a vacancy becomes available.”
The League has been challenged to do better concerning diversity hires, and the new policy enhancements are part of the League’s steps to commit to diversity and inclusion.
New Rules
According to the NFL, the new enhancements to the Rooney Rule include that “clubs must interview at least one diverse candidate from the Career Development Advisory Panel list or a diverse candidate not currently employed by the club.”
Additionally, “clubs must continue best practice recommendation of considering multiple diverse candidates.”
Read full story at The Shadow League here.
