Jarrett Bell of USA Today is reporting that eight NFL head coaching jobs and seven general manager positions have been filled during the just-completed hiring cycle. There were no minorities hired for the top jobs. Bell reports:
John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, told USA TODAY Sports on Friday that his organization will push for the NFL to revise the Rooney Rule, which requires that teams interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and general manager vacancies. He would not elaborate on specific details.
“We are extremely disappointed,” Wooten said. “But we’re not discouraged. We will be talking with the league in terms of pushing forward.”
Each of the teams that recently had vacancies complied with the Rooney Rule, but respected candidates — including Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton and New York Giants college scouting director Marc Ross — were passed over.
Is the NFL moving backward? It’s a question that has been revived on the 10th anniversary of the Rooney Rule’s creation as a means to expose often-overlooked minority candidates.
An example of a major snub during this hiring season is the absence of Baltimore Ravens Offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell from the pool of candidates. The Ravens are playing in the AFC championship game for the second year in a row and Caldwell did not receive an interview for any of the openings.
Read more at USA Today.
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