The NFL's Rooney Rule has long been a topic of conversation, even debate. What does it do?

The NFL’s Rooney Rule has long been a topic of conversation, even debate.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is among the most recent to weigh in. He sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell threatening possible enforcement actions if the league doesn’t suspend the rule, which was established in 2003 in hopes of encouraging teams to hire more minority coaches.

Uthmeier believes the rule violates Florida law by requiring race-based considerations in hiring.

Uthmeier asked the league to confirm “no later than May 1” that it would no longer enforce the Rooney Rule for its Florida franchises — the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Uthmeier said failing to suspend the Rooney Rule may result in enforcement actions against the league for race-based discrimination.

The Rooney Rule has been expanded several times over the years and now extends to searches for general managers, coordinators and quarterback coaches.

Critics argue it has led to too many token interviews, designed to check off a box rather than providing a real shot at a job.

That is one of the elements in the 2022 lawsuit filed by former Dolphins head coach — now Vikings defensive coordinator — Brian Flores, who accused the NFL and three teams of racist hiring practices.

What is the origin of the Rooney Rule?

The rule was named after late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who was head of the league’s Workplace Diversity Committee at the time, and requires teams to interview at least two external diverse candidates (minority or female) for head coach and general manager vacancies, and at least one for senior positions.

It was designed to increase diversity in leadership by requiring in-person interviews, but it has faced criticism over the years for failing to significantly boost minority hiring.

The Workplace Diversity Committee’s initial focus was on the historically low number of minorities in head coaching positions. The policy originally required every team with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least one diverse candidate before making a new hire.

Over the years, the Rooney Rule has expanded to include a greater number of positions across NFL clubs.

Are women included in the Rooney Rule?

Yes. In 2022, the league expanded the Rooney Rule to include women as a part of the minority candidate definition.

NFL teams can include women as minority candidates for vacancies involving head coach, general manager, coordinators, QBs coach and senior personnel.

Does the NFL reward teams for developing minorities?

Yes. In November 2020, owners approved a proposal rewarding teams who developed minority talent who went on to become general managers or head coaches across the league.

If a team loses a minority executive or coach to another team, that team receives a third-round compensatory pick for two years. If a team loses both a coach and a personnel member, it receives a third-round compensatory pick for three years.

What are the penalties for violating the Rooney Rule?

The NFL can fine teams in excess of $500,000 for violating the rule. It also can take away draft picks or invalidate a hire.

However, the only punishment on record came in 2023 when Detroit was fined $200,000 for hiring Steve Mariucci before interviewing a minority candidate.

Has the Rooney Rule worked?

The 2006 season was considered a huge breakthrough. There were seven Black head coaches that year, and two of them met in the Super Bowl for the first time ever.

When Tony Dungy’s Indianapolis Colts defeated Lovie Smith’s Chicago Bears in the title game, minority coaches appeared to be the biggest winners. No one could deny Black coaches could do the job as well as their white counterparts.

The number of minority head coaches reached an all-time high in 2024 with nine, a list that included six Black head coaches.

But that number dwindled to five ahead of the 2026 season.

Eleven teams, roughly a third of the league, have never had a Black non-interim coach. The list includes Baltimore, Buffalo, Carolina, Dallas, Jacksonville, the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans, the New York Giants, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington. Three of those teams have had minority coaches: the Panthers (Dave Canales), the Titans (Robert Saleh) and the Commanders (Ron Rivera).