The NFL is facing a challenge to its Rooney Rule after a letter from Florida’s attorney general.
James Uthmeier sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday to express concern that the Rooney Rule is “blatant race and sex discrimination”. Uthmeier suggests that hiring decisions should be based on merit only.
Florida AG Demands End to Rooney Rule
Uthmeier has challenged the NFL to suspend the Rooney Rule or face possible civil rights action. Uthmeier said the rule “violates Florida law by requiring race-based considerations in hiring.”
Uthmeier asked Goodell to “confirm no later than May 1, 2026, that the NFL will no longer enforce the Rooney Rule or any variation or extension thereof”. He stated that failure to comply could result in a civil rights enforcement action.
Uthmeier also sent the letter to the owners of the NFL’s three Florida-based teams, according to Politico.
NFL Response and Review
The NFL has acknowledged receipt of the letter and is reviewing its contents. NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said, “We believe our policies are consistent with the law and reflect our commitment to fairness, opportunity, and building the strongest possible teams.”
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II, chair of the NFL’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee, said that the league will have an obligation to consider Uthmeier’s demands. Rooney told ESPN that he had not seen the letter personally.
“There’s no question that the environment has changed in recent years,” Rooney told ESPN. “We do have an obligation to make sure that our policies comply with the laws, whatever the law is, and whatever the changes in law might be. We’ve got to look at that and make sure we’re in compliance… When the league’s lawyers have a chance to analyze it to determine what is it about Florida law that the attorney general is questioning, we’ll have to review that. That’s just the environment we’re existing in today.”
Background of the Rooney Rule
Adopted in 2003, the Rooney Rule requires NFL clubs to interview two external minority candidates for vacant head coach, general manager and coordinator positions. Ahead of the Super Bowl, Goodell said the NFL would take a closer look at the Rooney Rule and all that it encompasses to “continue to make progress” on diversity.
This offseason, Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh, who is of Lebanese descent, was the only minority candidate to land a top coaching job, and no Black head coaches were hired for the 10 openings.
The NFL will analyse the legal challenge and determine its next steps.