John Wooten applauds Roger Goodell, NFL for Rooney Rule tweaks, new diversity efforts
John Wooten, the retired founder of the Fritz Pollard Alliance and fierce proponent of the Rooney Rule, is applauding commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL’s renewed effort to spark the hiring of people of color in front office and coaching positions.
The NFL is expanding its Rooney Rule to require at least two interviews with external, minority candidates for future head coaching opportunities. The change will go into effect immediately.
The changes also includes interviewing at least one minority candidate for any coordinator job and at least one minority candidate and/or woman candidate interview for all senior-level positions.
However, another measure, that would improve draft picks for teams that hire minority candidates in head coach or general manager roles was tabled on Tuesday.
Under the proposal, which is aimed at fixing diversity issues across the league, a team could upgrade its third-round draft selection by up to 16 picks if a minority candidate is hired. The draft pick could go up 10 spots for hiring a minority general manager or an equivalent-level position and six spots for hiring a minority candidate as head coach.
Additionally, teams also could move up five spots in the fourth round should a minority general manager or head coach enter the third year on the job. If a minority quarterbacks coach is retained after one season, the club would receive a fourth-round compensatory pick.
No date was set to reconsider those proposals. The plans, which were submitted by the league’s diversity committee, will need 24 of 32 votes in favor to pass.
Under the other measure, the league would eliminate the anti-tampering barrier that currently allows teams to block assistant coaches from interviewing for coordinator positions with other clubs.
“Roger Goodell is committed to the cause,” Wooten said from his home in Arlington. “He wants it to be the way it should be. The best candidates should get the job and have a level playing field. I hope minorities in the NFL will see the commitment of inclusiveness and diversity has not faded away. That is what they are trying to do. I think they did a good job in putting together a heck of proposal.”
Three of the last 20 NFL head-coaching hires were minority candidates, while two of the league’s 32 general managers are minorities.
The three black coaches in the 32-team league are tied with 2013 for the fewest since the adoption of the Rooney Rule in 2003.
Goodell said in January that the league needed to modify the rule to encourage more diverse hires in front offices and for head coaching roles.
The Rooney Rule previously required every team with a vacancy at head coach or general manager to interview at least one or more diverse candidates.
“Clearly, we are not where we want to be on this level,” Goodell said. “We have a lot of work that’s gone into not only the Rooney Rule, but our policies overall. It’s clear we need to change and do something different.”
Overall, Wooten likes the steps the league is taking. “The things we have been talking about over the years they are doing, extending it down to coordinators,” he said. “And the thing minority coaches should really be liking is they can no longer block you from interviewing for jobs. This is huge in terms of trying to develop people.
“This is good for the minority candidate. It gives him the incentive to keep pushing and keep working to prepare himself for the position. It lets him know the dream is still possible.”
