By CultureBanx Team
- The NFL implemented a seven-point mobility plan to increase front office and coaching diversity
- 70% of NFL players are minorities
The NFL just implemented a seven-point mobility plan this month, that it projects will enhance diversity throughout the league, in which about 70% of the players are minorities. The seven-point mobility plan focuses directly on explaining the responsibilities of the 32 clubs which generated $16 Billion in revenue in 2019. Specifically, as it relates to the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority applicants for senior leadership positions, including ownership, that hasn’t been having the desired effect.
Why This Matters: The Rooney Rule was adopted by the NFL in 2003 and Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy has long pointed to the hiring process, particularly at the end of the season, needing to be slowed down, as a major drawback in diversity hiring. We won’t see meaningful movement in changing the NFL’s structural issues unless there are significantly more different world views among the ownership of the league. Getting owners to truly care may be difficult, since the average NFL team valuation has grown by 11% over the last year.
The Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority applicants for senior leadership positions, including ownership, hasn’t been having the desired effect
Former NFL player Troy Vincent, joined the league office in 2010 as vice president of player engagement, and by 2014 was in charge of NFL football operations. He once said “Football transcends race, age, gender and other elements of society and creates community by bringing people together across our great nation.”
Situational Awareness: Vincent did note to the Associated Press there have been dozens of people who have pushed for diversity in the 17 years since the Rooney Rule was adopted. If the league is going to remain relevant, changing up the ownership demographics of the NFL is a must.
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