Fritz Pollard Alliance pushing for the expansion of Rooney Rule

January 22, 2013|By Omar Kelly, Sun Sentinel

In a letter directed to NFL executives sent Tuesday, the Fritz Pollard Alliance (FPA) - an affinity group of minority coaches, front office and scouting personnel established ten years ago - called for an expansion of the league’s historic diversity initiative, the Rooney Rule.

The expansion would have the Rooney Rule come into play in hiring of coordinator, assistant head coach, and club president positions moving forward.

The NFL is presently reviewing its hiring practices league wide, and considering expanding the Rooney Rule to create more diversity in the league's top positions.

Here is what the letter states....







Why was the letter needed?

  • Eight teams conducted head coach searches.  None of the eight hired a minority head coach.
  • Seven teams conducted general manager searches. None of the seven hired a minority general manager
  • There are now only four minority head coaches in the NFL, the fewest there have been in a decade
  • In the last two seasons Super Bowl Coaches Jim Caldwell and Lovie Smith and Super Bowl GM Rod Graves have lost their job and only Caldwell is presently employed by an NFL club, where he serves as the interim offensive coordinator with the Ravens. Caldwell is the offensive coordinator in the NFL who is a minority.
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