Is the Rooney Rule working? Or is it not? This still seems to be the question more than 20 years after it was adopted by the NFL in 2003 recommended by its Workforce Diversity Committee, chaired by the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney. At its core, the Rooney Rule was instituted to ensure hiring practices in the NFL among minority candidates were fair and equitable. Although the rule has spirited a recent uptick in interviews and minority candidate hirings for the upcoming 2024 NFL football season, the past 20 years have seen mixed reviews in a league where minorities make up 70 percent of its players (2022). 

Initially, the Rooney Rule spurred an increase in minority candidate hirings in the NFL within the first three seasons rising from six percent to a high of 22 percent. However, that number dropped to a staggering low of three percent in 2021 as Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin remained as the only minority head coach at the end of the season. 

Most recently, the rule has come under fire due to the lack opportunities it was meant to create. Despite the recent hirings of several minority candidates, the past five NFL seasons beginning in 2018 have not produced more than three minority head coaches in any one of those seasons. In fact, the number of minority head coaches in the NFL has steadily trended down since numbers were stable between the years 2006 – 2011 NFL seasons. 

The Rooney Rule mandated NFL teams to interview minority coaching candidates who were not part of the organization to be considered for coaching and positions in the front office. Furthermore, the NFL expanded on changes to the Rooney Rule to include the following: 

1. Clubs must interview at least one diverse candidate from the Career Development Advisory Panel list or a diverse candidate not currently employed by the club

2. Clubs must continue best practice recommendation of considering multiple diverse candidates

3. Clubs must maintain complete records and furnish to the league upon Commissioner’s request

4. If final decision-maker is involved in the beginning, he/she must be involved through the conclusion of the process.

For everything the Rooney Rule was meant to accomplish when the rule was adopted, well qualified candidates are still seemingly passed over on a year-to-year basis. Notable former NFL running back Eric Bieniemy and former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator played nine NFL seasons for the San Diego Chargers (1991-1994), Cincinnati Bengals (1995-1998), and Philadelphia Eagles (1999) before returning to the University of Colorado in 2001 to begin his coaching career. 

The #NFL definitely has a problem on its hand

Black Head Coach’s in the NFL since 2018:
2018 – 8
2019 – 3
2020 – 3
2021 – 3
2022 – 3
2023 – 3
Is the Rooney Rule working? #NFL #rooneyrule #NFLblackheadcoachs

— BLKPRENEURSHIP ®️ (@blkpreneurship) February 3, 2024

Bieniemy would go on to serve in multiple roles in the NFL beginning in 2006 as the Minnesota Vikings running backs coach. After spending five seasons with the Vikings, Bieniemy landed in Kansas City where he would assume the same role for five more seasons before becoming the team’s offensive coordinator under the tutelage of head coach Andy Reid. 

Beginning in 2018 as the Chiefs offensive coordinator and primary play caller, Bieniemy would find success leading one of the NFL’s best offenses to multiple playoff appearances as well as two super bowl titles (2019, 2022). At the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season, five NFL head coaching positions were made available for candidates. 

Of the five openings, only the Houston Texans selected a minority candidate in former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Demeco Ryans while the Denver Broncos (Sean Payton), Arizona Cardinals (Jonathan Gannon), Indianapolis Colts (Shane Steichen), and the Carolina Panthers (Frank Reich) all selected non-minority candidates. Out of options for a head coaching vacancy, Bieniemy would be offered and then accept the vacant offensive coordinator position with the Washington Commanders under head coach Ron Rivera. 

With the institution of the Rooney Rule in place, some team owners and front office executives in charge of hiring processes are circumventing the rule with ‘token interviews’ for minority head coaching candidates while a non-minority candidates have been pre selected to assume the role as head coach. Following the 2021 NFL season, Brian Flores, who is hispanic, was fired by the Miami Dolphins after three seasons posting a cumulative record of 24-25. After interviewing for several head coaching vacancies, Flores filed a federal lawsuit against the NFL and three franchises (Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Houston Texans) alleging systemic discrimination. Flores noted these teams conducted token interviews as an attempt to comply with the Rooney Rule.

Since its adoption, of the 129 head coaching vacancies made available by NFL franchises, only 15 minority candidates or 12 percent filled those vacancies. The NFL must demand better for its minority head coaches and front office personnel candidates.