Updates

NFL clubs unanimously adopted new procedures in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. In approving a resolution and other rules changes, league officials will implement wide-sweeping workplace reforms to increase employment opportunities and advancement for minorities and women across the league.

“We believe these new policies demonstrate the NFL owners’ commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the NFL,” said Pittsburgh Steelers owner and chairman of the Workplace Diversity Committee, Art Rooney II. “The development of young coaches and young executives is a key to our future. These steps will assure coaching and football personnel are afforded a fair and equitable opportunity to advance throughout our football operations. We also have taken important steps to ensure that our front offices, which represent our clubs in so many different ways, come to reflect the true diversity of our fans and our country.”

The resolution changes the league’s current Anti-Tampering Policy by establishing a system that prohibits a club from denying an assistant coach the opportunity to interview with a new team for a bona fide offensive, defensive, or special teams coordinator position, or denying a non-high-level/non-secondary football executive from interviewing for a bona fide assistant general manager position. In either case, a contract could not be negotiated or signed until after the employer club’s season. It also requires all clubs submit, in writing, an organizational reporting structure for the coaching staff with job descriptions for any coordinator or co-coordinator.

The resolution also requires that any dispute regarding whether the new team is offering a “bona fide” position will be submitted promptly to the Commissioner, whose determination shall be final, binding and not subject to further review.

The resolution was put forth by the Workplace Diversity Committee, chaired by Art Rooney II (Pittsburgh Steelers) and the Competition Committee, chaired by Rich McKay (Atlanta Falcons).

The league also expanded Rooney Rule requirements and implemented enhanced diversity policies.

The enhancements to the Rooney Rule include changes both on and off the field. Clubs will now be required to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coach vacancies; at least one minority candidate for any of the three coordinator vacancies; and at least one external minority candidate for the senior football operations or general manager position.

The Rooney Rule will now for the first time apply to a wide range of executive positions, and clubs must also include minorities and/or female applicants in the interview processes for senior-level front-office positions such as club president and senior executives in communications, finance, human resources, legal, football operations, sales, marketing, sponsorship, information technology, and security positions.

The league office will also adhere to these requirements.

“The NFL is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, which I believe is critical to our continued success,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “While we have seen positive strides in our coaching ranks over the years aided by the Rooney Rule, we recognize after the last two seasons that we can and must do more. The policy changes made today are bold and substantial and demonstrate the commitment of our ownership to increase diversity in leadership positions throughout the league, particularly in leadership positions.”

Comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion plans will be implemented at all 32 clubs and the league office to include education, training and universal data collection.

Additionally, an advisory panel with input from the Fritz Pollard Alliance will be convened to promote ideas to foster an inclusive culture of opportunity both on and off the field.

For the first time, all 32 NFL clubs will host a coaching fellowship program geared towards minority candidates. These fellowships are full-time positions, ranging from one to two years, and provide NFL Legends, minority and female participants with hands-on training in NFL coaching. While positions at each organization vary, these programs help identify and develop talent with the goal of advancing candidates to full-time coaching positions through promotion within.

The NFL has two long-standing fellowship programs focused on increasing the pipeline for minority coaching and player personnel candidates — the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship and the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship.

The NFL's Workplace Diversity Committee of owners and executive personnel includes:

• Art Rooney II - Pittsburgh Steelers (Chair)
• Michael Bidwill - Arizona Cardinals
• Arthur Blank - Atlanta Falcons
• Javier Loya - Houston Texans
• John Mara - New York Giants
• George H. McCaskey - Chicago Bears
• Ozzie Newsome - Baltimore Ravens
• Kim Pegula - Buffalo Bills

The NFL’s Competition Committee consists of two club presidents, two club presidents, two general managers, and three head coaches:

• Rich McKay (chairman) – president, Atlanta Falcons
• Mark Murphy – president, Green Bay Packers
• Stephen Jones – owner, Dallas Cowboys
• John Mara – owner, New York Giants
• John Elway – general manager, Denver Broncos
• Ozzie Newsome – general manager, Baltimore Ravens
• Sean Payton – head coach, New Orleans Saints
• Ron Rivera – head coach, Washington Redskins
• Mike Tomlin – head coach, Pittsburgh Steelers

The policy changes were developed in consultation with the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which advocates for diversity and job equality in the league.