The NFL recently made some modifications to the Rooney Rule.

The goal of the original Rooney Rule was to make sure that minorities and all ethnic groups are being given fair opportunities to interview for management positions within the league.

Some new changes include:

  • NFL teams need to interview at two minority applicants for the head coach position. The applicants cannot already be associated with the team.
  • NFL teams need to interview at least one external minority applicant for coordinator vacancies.
  • NFL teams need to interview at least one external minority candidate for general manager or for a position in senior football operations.

Additional updates include changes to the Anti-Tampering Policy which include:

  • Prohibiting an NFL team from, “Denying an assistant coach the opportunity to interview with a new team for a bona fide Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, or Special Teams Coordinator position”.
  • Prohibiting an NFL team from, “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 conclusion of the employer club’s playing season”.
  • Requiring,”All NFL teams to submit in writing an organizational reporting structure for the coaching staff with job descriptions for any coach who is a coordinator or co-coordinator within that structure. 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 NFL is looking to become more diversified in management and wants to place more minorities in higher positions within the league. All qualified candidates will be encouraged to apply knowing with confidence that they will be granted a fair interview. Under the terms of the new rule qualified candidates will be given the opportunity to apply for higher positions without the fear of being discriminated against.