All articles tagged with #rooney rule
Brian Flores’ lawsuit and related court rulings are dismantling the NFL’s Commissioner‑run arbitration, pushing for neutral, open courts for employee disputes and hinting at broader changes to how the league handles non-player claims and the Rooney Rule; the stakes include possible Supreme Court involvement.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the Rooney Rule at a Super Bowl press conference, arguing it helps teams evaluate a diverse slate of coaching candidates even as this hiring cycle produced 10 openings with only one minority hire and no Black head coaches; he emphasized the rule requires interviews rather than guarantees hires, and said the league will continue reviewing policies (including the accelerator program) to improve future outcomes and accountability across all clubs.
Ahead of Monday’s Super Bowl press conference, Roger Goodell could be pressed on NFL hiring practices and DEI, with recent history including Jim Trotter’s lawsuit over newsroom employment questions, scrutiny of the Rooney Rule after a largely non-minority head-coach slate, and ongoing debates about DEI’s role and the league’s accountability in hiring. The discussion comes as government oversight remains limited and the league faces questions about its diversity initiatives.
As the NFL completed its latest head‑coach cycle, nine of ten openings were filled by white men, with Robert Saleh the lone non‑white hire, leaving three Black head coaches in 2026. The piece argues the league cannot mandate hires and that ownership drives decisions, despite Rooney Rule efforts, so Goodell is set to face questions about diversity and whether the league’s actions translate into real change rather than virtue signaling.
Denver Broncos fire offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and two positional coaches, Keary Colbert (WRs) and Addison Lynch (CBs), in a staff overhaul led by Sean Payton. Lombardi’s departure could clear the way for quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, who is also a potential candidate for future jobs; Denver will still need to interview two minority candidates to satisfy the Rooney Rule. Colbert’s receivers were among the league’s leading culprits in drops, while Lynch had recently been promoted to CBs coach.
New York Jets fire offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand after a year, as head coach Aaron Glenn pivots toward a different play-caller role and begins a broader staff overhaul. Engstrand’s exit follows a 2025 season that ranked 29th in yards and points and last in passing, with three different starting quarterbacks. Glenn will interview outside minority candidates to satisfy Rooney Rule as he seeks an OC, with names such as Frank Reich and Matt Nagy linked to the job, while the Jets also search for a new defensive coordinator after firing Steve Wilks. The franchise faces a difficult hire—no quarterback on the roster and a hot seat for Glenn—even as cap space and top draft capital offer some options.
New York Jets have parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand after discussions with head coach Aaron Glenn about his role; with reports that Frank Reich was set to join as the replacement, the Jets now face a new OC hire and must ensure Rooney Rule compliance in the process.
Jacksonville offensive coordinator Grant Udinski is slated for a Friday second interview with the Cleveland Browns, the third candidate to receive a second meeting as the Rooney Rule requirements loom; Udinski just wrapped his first season running Jacksonville's offense and is also set for an interview with the Bills on Sunday.
With Rooney Rule scrutiny in play, the Browns’ coaching search continues among top candidates Grant Udinski, Nathan Scheelhaase, and Todd Monken (with Jim Schwartz a possibility), as cap maneuvers tied to the Deshaun Watson deal and potential Haslam involvement shape the process. The team remains focused on a long-term plan—centered on the 2027 draft—rather than immediate 2026 roster upgrades, and the Rooney Rule applies to OC hires as well.
ESPN's Jeff Darlington says six NFL head-coach openings could fill quickly as dominoes start to fall after recent hires, with Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Arizona and Buffalo in the mix and the Steelers eyeing Rams assistants Chris Shula and Nate Scheelhaase while meeting Rooney Rule requirements, potentially resulting in a hire within about a week.
The Browns’ head coach search moves into a second interview phase with a one-candidate-per-day schedule this week (Mon: Schwartz, Tue: Monken, Wed: McDaniel reportedly canceled, Thu: Minter, Fri: Udinski) and next week’s plan to meet Nate Scheelhaase. The process will include the Rooney Rule interview in person, with Scheelhaase as the only publicly confirmed candidate to fulfill it.
The Miami Dolphins hired Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their new defensive coordinator, ending a 10‑day coaching search with Hafley the only candidate to receive a second interview. The decision, driven by new GM Jon‑Eric Sullivan, came after the team ensured Rooney Rule compliance by interviewing two minority candidates and considering other options such as Sean McDermott, with Hafley emerging as the chosen leader and potential interest from other teams if the deal falls through.
Tomlin's hiring by the Steelers—an interview not originally required by the Rooney Rule—helped push the NFL to broaden its candidate pool and opened more opportunities for minority coaches and front-office roles across the league.
The Giants hosted John Harbaugh for an extended in-person interview that concluded without a contract, while Harbaugh is scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans next; New Jersey’s Giants appeared eager but did not close on a deal, keeping Harbaugh's options open as the Titans also pursue him.
The NFL coaching hiring process begins with virtual interviews starting January 5, with specific rules based on playoff progress, and includes mandatory in-person interviews with minority and/or women candidates under the Rooney Rule, which aims to promote diversity in team leadership.