Is it time for the NFL to dump the Rooney rule?

[cupofjoe1962]

The Dolphins want to hire Harbaugh.....
Do they really need to do a manditory interview of a black coach before they can hire him?

At the end of the 2010 NFL season, there were 8 black head coaches.
Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals (eighth season).
Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears (seventh season).
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers (fourth season).
Mike Singletary, San Francisco 49ers (third season).
Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts (second season).
Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (second season).
Leslie Frazier, Minnesota Vikings (interim coach).
Eric Studesville, Denver Broncos (interim coach).

The last USA demographics I could find has the Black population
at 12.4 percent

If there were 8 black head coaches in the NFL at the end of the
season, then 25% of the head coaches were black, which is more
than double the 12.4% black population percentage.

If someone is going to spend close to a billion dollars on a football team,
I am sure they are going to hire the best coach they can find.

The Rooney Rule, established in 2003,[1] requires National Football League teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operations opportunities. The rule is named for Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the chairman of the league's diversity committee, and indirectly the Rooney family in general, due to the Steelers' long history of giving African Americans opportunities to serve in team leadership roles. It is often cited as an example of affirmative action.

 

[Nikolai]

Singletary was fired and I'm not sure about Studesville's future.

As for the policy, I'm on the fence. I don't know enough about the organizational culture of the NFL to comment on why the league thought this policy was necessary.

 

[signbabybrady]

The policy could use some work if it is really even needed.

In the instance the OP brings up I have no problem with the rule being in place that is why its in place. They want you to consider a minority. In the Dolphins case they havent even fired their last guy and they seemingly have already narrowed down their next guy and neither are a minority and aparently a minority was never considered.

The one that gets me is the Interim Head Coach. If you make a guy a Interim and he is good enough to become the head guy then that is a no brainer and kind of insulting to who you bring in to satisfy the rule. Sure a racist owner could use this as a loophole but they would look pretty bad if they did it several times in a row.

 

[resdubwhite]

Given the Dolphins history over last years interview with Dez Bryant it would do them no harm to be broad minded enough to interview a minority candidate.

You never know. Some of their execs might actually have their perceptions quashed because of it.

 

[strngplyr]

I think the Rooney rule itself could be considered as racist. How many teams make up their mind on who they will hire, and interview a minority just because.

I'm sure there are alot of minority coaches who know they only reason they are even being glanced at isn't because of their ability as a coach, but because a rule says they have to be talked to. Personally, if i was a minority coach that would probably make me feel worse than if i was ignored completely.

 

[SirApropos]

No to pick nits but it's not just Black Coaches. The Panthers have asked for permission to speak to Ron Rivera the D Coord of San Diego about their Head Coach opening and he would satisfy the Rooney Rule because he is Hispanic.

Also Leslie Frazier has had the interim tag removed and is now the Head Coach of the Vikings.

 

[ahmed]

I'm sure there are alot of minority coaches who know they only reason they are even being glanced at isn't because of their ability as a coach, but because a rule says they have to be talked to. Personally, if i was a minority coach that would probably make me feel worse than if i was ignored completely.

I agree; however, if one of the above coaches was hired because or in part because of this rule (i.e. gave them a chance to talk to an owner and then convinced them) then it's a good rule.

 

[BrainTrust66]

The Dolphins want to hire Harbaugh.....
Do they really need to do a manditory interview of a black coach before they can hire him?

The last USA demographics I could find has the Black population
at 12.4 percent

If there were 8 black head coaches in the NFL at the end of the
season, then 25% of the head coaches were black, which is more
than double the 12.4% black population percentage.

A few thoughts:

1. My guess is that the demographic that they are looking for is more in line with the black population of the league, not the population in general (and I don't know what that is, but I'm guessing more than 25%?)
   
2. I think the rule did this in the first place because of the perception, right or wrong, that qualified black coaches weren't getting a fair shake. What I like about that is that it does give owners pause to stop using the head coach Recyclo-Matic that keeps giving the head job to guys like Norv Turner.
   
3. I would like to see the rule amended such that if an interim coach is promoted that they don't need to follow this rule. As one other poster said, if a racist owner was doing this just to get around the system people would figure it out.

 

[blackglass3]

I think the Rooney rule itself could be considered as racist. How many teams make up their mind on who they will hire, and interview a minority just because.

I'm sure there are alot of minority coaches who know they only reason they are even being glanced at isn't because of their ability as a coach, but because a rule says they have to be talked to. Personally, if i was a minority coach that would probably make me feel worse than if i was ignored completely.

I agree with this. THese coaches are more gossiping hens than the media. They hear who the owners want, and have to see their visit is just a sham. This rule was needed back in the 90's, not now.

It annoys me that it doesn't go both ways, also. Leslie Frazier and Jason Garrett are both interim coaches. Frazier can just get hired, but Garrett can't. That is BS.

 

[Deus Irae]

It's always time to dump a rule that should never have been there in the first place.

 

[signbabybrady]

It's always time to dump a rule that should never have been there in the first place.

I dont agree with that since the rule went in place there has clearly been in an increase in minority coaches and not just at the head coach level. I think some things need to be done to stop some of the weird instances (probably could of been better thought out in the dirst place) and maybe it is even time to repeal completely and see if ten or so years of the rule fixed the culture.

 

[Deus Irae]

I dont agree with that since the rule went in place there has clearly been in an increase in minority coaches and not just at the head coach level. I think some things need to be done to stop some of the weird instances (probably could of been better thought out in the dirst place) and maybe it is even time to repeal completely and see if ten or so years of the rule fixed the culture.

Putting in a rule which demands racist action in order to, theoretically, end or lessen racism in hiring practices, is one of the more idiotic notions this country has ever put forth. The NFL opting to do the same thing is one of the more idiotic notions the league has ever gone with.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Talk about a stupid rule..and we want to stop racism? HA

 

[signbabybrady]

Putting in a rule which demands racist action in order to, theoretically, end or lessen racism in hiring practices, is one of the more idiotic notions this country has ever put forth.

:ugh::scared::stars2:





:americaflag:

 

[JackBauer]

Gosh, I wonder how long it will take before this turns into a political discussion on the merits of affirmative action.

 

[lamafist]

Ok, first of all, black people might comprise 12% of the population as a whole, the population of former players (at both the pro and college levels) as well as lower-level coaches is considerably higher than that, and yet for a long time, they weren't finding themselves moving into the upper echelons of teams' coaching and management.

Secondly, the present total is almost certainly the largest number of minority head coaches the league has ever had, but that doesn't mean the underlying circumstances that led to minorities not finding themselves being promoted to the senior coaching positions are totally gone. If you put a stop light in an intersection because of the number of accidents that happen there, and two years later, there haven't been any accidents for a while, you don't decide the intersection doesn't need the stop light any more.

The Rooney rule helps ensure that minority candidates know they will get interviews, and as anyone who's ever job-hunted before knows, just because you don't land the gig doesn't mean the interview wasn't productive. Maybe you don't get the HC job, but catch the eye of a front-office guy who ends up being hired as a GM somewhere else. Maybe you get recommended to the new HC as a coordinator. Maybe you impress the owner or GM, and he mentions your name to a colleague. Maybe you just get some good interview experience.

At the end of the day, job-hunting is all about networking, and the Rooney rule helps introduce minority candidates to the people they need to know, and the only thing it costs anybody is a few hours of time every 2-15+ years, when they look to hire a new HC.

 

[signbabybrady]

Gosh, I wonder how long it will take before this turns into a political discussion on the merits of affirmative action.

too late it did

 

[signbabybrady]

Ok, first of all, black people might comprise 12% of the population as a whole, the population of former players (at both the pro and college levels) as well as lower-level coaches is considerably higher than that, and yet for a long time, they weren't finding themselves moving into the upper echelons of teams' coaching and management.

Secondly, the present total is almost certainly the largest number of minority head coaches the league has ever had, but that doesn't mean the underlying circumstances that led to minorities not finding themselves being promoted to the senior coaching positions are totally gone. If you put a stop light in an intersection because of the number of accidents that happen there, and two years later, there haven't been any accidents for a while, you don't decide the intersection doesn't need the stop light any more.

The Rooney rule helps ensure that minority candidates know they will get interviews, and as anyone who's ever job-hunted before knows, just because you don't land the gig doesn't mean the interview wasn't productive. Maybe you don't get the HC job, but catch the eye of a front-office guy who ends up being hired as a GM somewhere else. Maybe you get recommended to the new HC as a coordinator. Maybe you impress the owner or GM, and he mentions your name to a colleague. Maybe you just get some good interview experience.

At the end of the day, job-hunting is all about networking, and the Rooney rule helps introduce minority candidates to the people they need to know, and the only thing it costs anybody is a few hours of time every 2-15+ years, when they look to hire a new HC.

well said....

 

[lamafist]

Putting in a rule which demands racist action in order to, theoretically, end or lessen racism in hiring practices, is one of the more idiotic notions this country has ever put forth. The NFL opting to do the same thing is one of the more idiotic notions the league has ever gone with.

Yes, because, as we all know, the best way to deal with a problem that's afflicted our nation for hundreds of years is to pretend like it doesn't exist.

 

[lurker1965]

I agree with this. THese coaches are more gossiping hens than the media. They hear who the owners want, and have to see their visit is just a sham. This rule was needed back in the 90's, not now.

It annoys me that it doesn't go both ways, also. Leslie Frazier and Jason Garrett are both interim coaches. Frazier can just get hired, but Garrett can't. That is BS.

To avoid discrimination charges, Jerry Jones announces that Garret is gay, much to the surprise of his wife and kids.