NFL commissioner Roger Goodell doubled down on the league’s commitment to inclusive hiring practices, including the Rooney Rule, during his state of the league address. The rule requires clubs to interview minority or female candidates for key positions.
Goodell stated that the efforts are fundamental in attracting top talent and making the NFL better. He clarified that there is no requirement to hire based on race or gender, but rather looking at a diverse pool of candidates. There are also no quotas in place.
The Rooney Rule has undergone updates since 2003, including requiring clubs to interview two external minority candidates for head coach and general manager positions in 2021. Goodell acknowledged that some clubs had faced scrutiny due to the rule, with some publicized hires linked to white candidates before completing their interviews.
However, when asked about concerns over the validity of these interviews, Goodell said he is confident they are done properly. The league has made changes to address concerns from minority candidates who felt their interviews were not authentic or thorough enough.
When questioned about corporate sponsors participating in DEI rollbacks, Goodell stated that the league does not make policies for sponsors but has conversations with them about the importance of diversity efforts.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43682448/roger-goodell-says-nfl-better-diversity-efforts