PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — To ensure there are more opportunities for candidates from America’s different ethnic minorities, the NFL has added requirements for hiring assistant coaches and women in general.
Actions announced Monday at the owners meeting include adjustments to the Rooney Rule adopted in 2003 and frequently amended in an attempt to improve opportunities for people of color and women for nearly every job in the league and equipment.
Beginning this season, all 32 clubs must hire a woman or a member of a racial or ethnic minority to serve as offensive assistant coach. The individual will receive a one-year contract and will work closely with the head coach and offensive staff to gain experience.
In recent years, head coaches have predominantly had offensive backgrounds. The channel for minorities on that side of the ball is slim, as Steelers owner Art Rooney II reiterated Monday.
“We recognize that we’ve seen progress on some fronts,” said Rooney, chairman of the league’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, “but we still have some way to go on other fronts.”
In the NFL, the number of ethnic minorities in all coaching positions increased, from 35% in the 2020 season to 39% last season. There was an increase in defensive coordinators to 15, two more; an increase in minority GMs (five to seven), and assistant GMs (three to six).
Teams will receive league funding for the coach’s salary for up to two years.
In general, the inclusion of women in all of the Rooney Rule requirements is intended to address the under-representation of women in key positions in the sport. The league believes this “will encourage further identification and development of female candidates and the possibility of offering them an additional opportunity to interview for open positions.”
A total of 12 female coaches at the start of the 2021 season was an all-time high.
There are currently five ethnic minority head coaches in the NFL. There are seven black CEOs.
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NFL wants more coaches from ethnic minorities