Updates

As part of the NFL's ongoing commitment to promote greater coach- and executive-level diversity among clubs, the league will host its inaugural Coach and Front Office Accelerator on May 23-24 at the Spring League Meeting in Atlanta.

The event will convene more than 60 diverse head coach and general manager prospects from all 32 clubs and the league with ownership representation from all 32 clubs. 

The program will provide senior women and minority prospects with leadership development sessions with football operations experts and facilitators and time to network directly with club owners. The effort is designed to continue building a diverse hiring pipeline for future head coach and general manager positions throughout the league.

Each club nominated rising prospects to participate. In addition to leadership development and sessions on the business of football, attendees will engage in candid discussions on how to take the next step in becoming a coach or front office executive.

"The NFL is committed to diversity and inclusion, and this program is the latest in a series of steps designed to improve our hiring practices and create opportunities for advancement," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "The program helps ensure that clubs receive exposure to high-performing, up-and-coming NFL talent and candidates get a chance to learn the business on a working level from team owners and executives."

"I think the Accelerator is some of the most important work the league and our committee will do all year because the potential of the program is exponential," said Arthur Blank, owner and chairman of the Blank Family of Businesses. "It's an unprecedented opportunity for emerging leaders, owners and team leadership to get to know each other better over these two days, and the relationships formed in this setting will be integral to future hiring cycles."