Despite lack of minority hires in 2019, the future looks promising with strengthened "Rooney Rule"

Brian Flores
photo courtesy: Associated Press

The 2019 coaching cycle has concluded and much to the chagrin of many, only one new minority head coach was hired. This is after the termination of five at the end of the 2018 season leaving the league with just four minority head coaches and one minority general manager entering into the 2019 offseason.

As disappointing as this outcome has been, the Fritz Pollard Alliance has seen promise in how the latest rounds of interviews have gone. I spoke with Jeremi Duru, counsel for the Fritz Pollard Alliance, and we spoke about the history of the "Rooney Rule", how it was strengthened after last season and what the future should bring for minority candidates in this league.

The "Rooney Rule" was established in 2003 to ensure minority coaches would be considered for high level coaching positions. In 2009, the rule was expanded to include front office personnel including general managers. While the rule doesn't stipulate that a team has to hire a minority head coach or general manager, they must at least interview minority candidates for vacant positions. The rule has had success, but still some controversies have arose. 

In January 2018, the Oakland Raiders hired Jon Gruden as their head coach after firing Jack Del Rio in December 2017. This hiring wasn't without massive controversy. Mark Davis had already met with Gruden in December and knew Gruden was interested in returning to coaching in Oakland. To circumvent the "Rooney Rule", Davis had then general manager Reggie McKenzie interview two minority coaches who were not qualified to take over as a head coach in the NFL. Shortly after the Raiders announced their hiring of Gruden as head coach. Immediately the Fritz Pollard Alliance contested to the NFL who conducted an investigation and concluded that there was no violation.

According to Duru, in February 2018 at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Alliance met with the NFL and worked out stronger guidelines in the application of the "Rooney Rule." The newly strengthened rule now states that the owner must be the principle decision maker in the process and that teams must interview coaches outside their own organization. Also the commissioner will be more involved in the process to ensure the rules are followed accordingly.

While Brian Flores was the only minority coach to be offered a head coach position, every team abided by the rules and interviewed two people of color for their open positions. Despite this effort Duru believes more needs to be done to give minority candidates an opportunity to be a head coach in the league.

"The league needs to build up the pipeline of minority coaches," Duru stated, "More need to be brought in at the earliest levels of quality control especially on the offensive side of the ball so more of them can build up the resume that will allow them to be good candidates to take over the head coaching duties of a franchise someday." 

Duru also believes the league should continue its career development symposium to help aspiring minority candidates know what teams are looking for in future coaches and general managers as well as provide a mentorship with current and former minority head coaches and general managers to help develop prospects into hireable contenders for openings. 

Despite the disappointment of this offseason, Duru is hopeful for the 2020 season. "I believe (Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator) Eric Bieniemy will be a head coach somewhere next season. So will (Dallas Cowboys passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach) Kris Richard."

Time will tell what the future will hold for minority candidates, but there is renewed promise of a brighter future.