NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has reaffirmed the league’s commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts, despite concerns from some quarters that progress has stalled. Under his leadership, the NFL has made significant strides in hiring high-ranking officials of color, including women, both on and off the field.
Goodell cited the Rooney Rule, a policy aimed at increasing diversity among coaching and front-office positions, as an example of this success. However, he acknowledged that the rule still faces challenges, including the temptation to substitute “sham interviews” with real searches for diverse candidates.
Despite these issues, Goodell expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the league’s hiring processes, citing his commitment to thorough interviews and follow-up with candidates. The NFL continues to work towards increasing minority representation in top leadership positions, although progress has been slow.
The recent departures of head coaches Antonio Pierce and Ran Carthon have raised concerns about the impact of the accelerator program, which aimed to accelerate the rise of qualified minority employees in coaching and front-office management.
Source: https://andscape.com/features/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-says-leagues-diversity-efforts-will-continue