James Uthmeier seeks to sack NFL’s ‘Rooney Rule’ to increase minority hires

Attorney General James Uthmeier wants to sideline the NFL’s rules seeking to promote minority hires for head coaching jobs and top executive positions.

Uthmeier wants to do away with the league’s so-called “Rooney Rule” requiring teams interview at least two minority candidates before they proceed with hiring individuals to fill high-ranking positions. In a letter to the league and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Uthmeier demanded suspension of the rule and a response from the league by May 1.

Uthmeier said the league is violating the Florida Civil Rights Act enacted in 1992.

“The Rooney Rule violates Florida law, and it must stop,” Uthmeier said in a statement on X. “Professional sports are a visible example of a merit-based system, but through the Rooney Rule, the NFL requires its teams to use race-based hiring practices.”

The NFL describes its hiring policy as an effort to increase diversity among its foremost leaders.

“The Rooney Rule aims to increase the number of minorities hired in head coach, general manager, and executive positions. This diversity enriches the game and creates a more effective, quality organization from top to bottom,” the NFL’s explanation states.

Uthmeier said that needs to change, at least in Florida, where the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins have been based for decades. Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles is the only minority leader among the Sunshine State teams. There are only four minority head coaches in the entire league.

There were 10 open head coaching jobs at the conclusion of this past NFL season. The Tennessee Titans made the only minority hire, with Robert Saleh filling their coaching vacancy.

In a February ESPN report, Goodell griped that the league should do better in terms of hiring minorities.

“I think we have become a more diverse league across every platform including coaching, but we still have more work to do,” Goodell said. “There’s got to be more steps.”

The Rooney Rule was instituted in 2003. It’s named after the late Pittsburgh Steelers team owner Dan Rooney. He was Chair of the NFL Workplace Diversity Committee that eventually became the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

The rule was expanded to include women as minorities in 2022.

Uthmeier’s challenge comes as the NFL’s annual League Meeting among owners is set for next week in Phoenix. Owners often review competition rules, administrative bylaws and other regulations governing the game and franchises during that session.

“Florida law is clear: Hiring decisions cannot be based on race and the Rooney Rule mandates race-based interviews and incentivizes race-based decisions. That’s discrimination,” Uthmeier said

He added that if the league doesn’t shelve the rule, it “may result in enforcement actions against the league.”

Uthmeier concluded that NFL teams and fans “don’t care” about the racial makeup of coaching staffs. He didn’t elaborate what actions might be taken against the NFL if league officials don’t respond by his deadline.