In March, Florida attorney general James Uthmeier threatened legal action against the NFL unless it suspended the Rooney Rule, the league’s longtime initiative to promote diversity on coaching and front office staffs.
The NFL has since responded, telling Uthmeier in a May 1 letter (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic), “Simply put, the NFL does not permit the consideration of race, sex, or any other legally protected characteristic in any hiring decisions or employment actions.”
The letter goes on to detail that the Rooney Rule seeks to expand opportunities for minorities to interview for top coaching and front office jobs, but teams remain free to hire (and fire) whomever they wish. Focusing on the interview process keeps the Rooney Rule in compliance of Florida and federal civil rights law, which prohibit discrimination in actual decision-making, not merely the consideration of certain candidates.
“In short, the Rooney Rule does not impose any hiring quota or mandates, nor does it even limit who may be interview,” the letter continues. “Most importantly, it does not license clubs to consider race or sex in making hiring decisions, consistent with NFL policy and applicable law.”
The letter addresses some of Uthmeier’s other concerns regarding developmental programs for coaches, executives, and referees, which are open to all applicants regardless of their demographics. It further clarifies that compensatory picks are awarded to teams who develop and lose minority talent to other clubs, making them a retroactive reward for investing in minority coaches and executives rather than incentivizing a team to hire them. In a footnote, the league mentions that no Florida team has ever received a compensatory pick via this system.
The NFL also acknowledged that a program promoting the hiring of minority offensive assistants had already been “sunset.” The initiative was originally launched in 2022, shortly after Brian Flores filed his employment discrimination lawsuit against the league, according to Rhim and his ESPN colleagues, Kalyn Kahler and Jason Reid. It mandated each team to have a minority offensive assistant on their coaching staff and provided funding for half of those coaches’ salaries.
The NFL’s response did not satisfy Uthmeier, and their alterations may have instead emboldened him. He issued an investigative subpoena to the league on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim, and in a letter to the league, took credit for the end of the minority offensive assistant program. Crucially, though, the mandate and funding for that initiative was phased out this past winter, long before Uthemeier’s first letter in March, making it impossible to ascribe its termination to him.
Uthmeier also referenced new language on the league’s webpage about the Rooney Rule, changes that “appear to soften or remove explicit references to increasing minority hiring, a central criticism raised by Uthmeier in his challenge to the policy,” Rhim adds. Uthmeier then asserted that the NFL’s recent adjustments raised more questions that will have to be answered via his subpoena.
Next steps remain unclear. Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the Rooney Rule in April, and league messaging has continued to promote their commitment to diversity and inclusion, indicating that the NFL intends to stand firm against Uthmeier’s efforts to interfere with their hiring practices.
I’ve watched enough Body Cam footage videos to know that the AG of Florida probably has better ways to spend his time than worrying about the NFL.
@Never Remember– SMH!!!
Also, if the Florida AG can get rid of the Rooney Rule…. that would be epic!!!
The Rooney Rule Sux!!!!!
Yeah it’s horrible how much the Rooney Rule has negatively affected you personally, isn’t it? I can totally understand why you’re so butthurt about it, princess. 🙄😂
Saying a person of color’s worth is equivalent to a compensatory 3rd round pick is pretty racist, insulting, derogatory, and reminiscent of when democrats fought for the 3/5th compromise where slaves would only count as 3/5th vote
Somethings never change
Using the word “butthurt” makes me wonder if you’re posting that comment while on recess. Good luck with the big jump from middle school to junior high next year, princess.
has anyone asked Goodell how how the league determines if candidates qualify as minorities? Do they use the eyeball test? Do they do a DNA test and if so, what is the threshold, like is 1/1024 enough for someone to qualify as a minority? or do they allow the candidates to self identify?
Even if the Rooney rule is well-intentioned and regardless of what the legal issues are, treating people differently based on race opens up a whole lot of cans of worms.
Tell me you have no idea what the rule does without telling me you have no idea. Please. Keep going, you don’t sound like a bigoted piece of poo or anything.
So you’re saying a rule that was created by white people because they determined minorities are incapable of moving up the coaching ranks on their own and need a special rule made for them isn’t racist?
Also how come it doesn’t help Asians?
It’s not that they can’t move up on their own. It’s that sometimes preconceived notions (prejudices) limit their opportunities to move up the coaching ranks.
The Rooney Rule was created to ensure that NFL teams give interview opportunities to minority candidates that they previously overlooked. And it’s a good compromise and policy because it doesn’t require teams to hire anybody, but makes sure that somebody who “doesn’t look the part” can prove themselves in an interview.
We all know the racial makeup of the players doesn’t come close to matching the racial makeup of head coaches.
“ makes sure that somebody who “doesn’t look the part” can prove themselves in an interview.”
lol what? We are talking about coaching ranks and front office gigs. Candidates are literally chosen from coaching staffs front office staffs across all NFL teams. Idk where you’re getting “look the part” cause they already look the part doing their daily coaching job or front office job.
If the Rooney Rule was
(1) effective you’d see women Asian and other minority groups entering the league climbing coaching ranks; it’s done nothing to advance those issues of diversity
(2) well thought out it would require teams to first let third party unaffiliated people pick candidates on their behalf given a list of criteria in their search and then do blind interviews where all they’re given is resumes for candidate A candidate B candidate C. Rooney Rule does nothing to eliminate bias or preconceived notions as people can literally see who they’re hiring and know why they are before offering them an interview.
It’s an inherently racist rule that needs to be updated or abolished completely
I’m fine using a love is blind style interview system but saying hey guys interview people of color or we punish you is just plain racist at its core
Some forget the general atmosphere within our Nation when the rule was suggested and adopted. It was a portion of Civil Rights steppin up to move past a ‘perceived barrier’ in employment practices and in different formats has been adopted throughout most industries.
However with such widespread acceptance or focus on ‘merit, knowledge and skill’ the mandate of the Rooney Rule might be antiquated and unnecessary while still being a tool that can be wielded as a weapon if one’s ‘feelings’ are impinged.
As an inclusive society such ‘rules’ can hinder more that help.
Still calling people bigots for having completely reasonable opinions, I see.
The rule doesn’t affect you, but here you are running your mouth. Ironic.
Also weird to be yelling at people about commenting on a rule that doesn’t affect you either. The lack of self awareness whilst typing that comment is staggering.
It’s Florida, shocker. What do you expect from a state run by bigoted POS’s?
For a bigoted POS state, they’re top 2 in new residents. All the people living there, plus the 500,000 people likely fleeing blue stats to live there, disagree with philliesphan77 in his parents basement.
People moving to a bigoted state doesn’t disprove that the state is run by bigots. And how do you know the ppl moving there aren’t from the surrounding red states that are the poorest states in the union?
Why would people move to a “bigoted state” if it’s “bigoted”.
I know because of statistics, Kevin.
The top 5 states with the highest outbound migration are:
1. California
2. New York
3. Illinois
4. New Jersey
5. Massachusetts
All those states have one thing in common. Do you notice the trend? BLUE!
“ And how do you know the ppl moving there aren’t from the surrounding red states that are the poorest states in the union?”
Cause you change your address lol.
It’s pretty obvious where you’re coming from when you change your address from California to Florida to forward any and all mail to your new address
You also have to register your car(s) with your new state within 30 typically.
There’s many many many many ways people track these things.
You’d think that white ppl would care more about minority programs since a lot of them complain about them becoming one in this country. SMH
I’d threaten to move all 3 Florida teams and cancel all future Super Bowls in Florida. They’ll get his attention.
Yeah Disney tried that. Didn’t go so well for Disney
MLB also did that when they moved the all star game from predominantly black Atlanta to predominantly white Denver over Georgia voting laws costing local black owned businesses and the city millions in revenue and actually lost millions themselves when people and businesses pulled funding over the decision.
Disney’s primary business operation in Florida is related to its theme park in a special district. I am doubting very much that Disney seriously considered closing its Florida based theme parks and moving them. The cost and logistics in doing so would have outweighed whatever benefits there were on the policies in that taxing district for which they eventually settled the case.
The MLB’s movement of the All-Star game was never a serious political statement from the MLB, it was a product of the MLB deciding where they thought the wind was blowing at the time, as is the decision to put a new game in Atlanta (again MLB thought the wind was blowing in the opposite direction this time, regardless of what the state of Georgia says about MLB reading the law and “rethinking its decision.” )
The NFL is also a private enterprise and can establish its own hiring practices, and there is not much a state government can do to change that, which is why this legal threat from Florida is nonsense. If the Rooney Rule is essentially reverse discrimination according to the Florida attorney general, he doesn’t have much of an argument. The Fourteenth Amendment which applies to the states does not give Congress enforcement power over provisions prohibiting discrimination in private business (that instead is the Commerce Clause). But that is the power of Congress, not a state such as Florida. I am not an expert in Florida law, but the legal threats they are making over the Rooney Rule are nothing more than likely political grandstanding.
In 1990, the NFL threatened to remove Super Bowl XXVII from Arizona if the voters did not vote to establish Martin Luther King Day as a paid holiday in Arizona. Arizona voters did not approve the initiative and the NFL removed the game from Arizona and instead awarded it to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Arizona later passed a different initiative and subsquently the NFL awarded future Super Bowls to Arizona.
The original poster makes valid point: if the NFL finds the political threats so frivolous and ridiculous, a serious statement would be prohibit future Super Bowls from being held in Florida. As far as the teams are concerned it is doubtful the NFL could force all 3 to move over the issue.
The last point is, Florida’s governor hurt his presidential candicy in 2024 over his fight with Disney about their policies. With the NFL being what it is, I believe Florida’s attorney general is naive if he thinks antagonizing the NFL over its internal business practices is going to score political points to help a future run for another office. Money is king here, and the NFL is making money hand over fist and if pushed too far, will hurt the wallets of the anatagonists, rather than its own wallet.
NFL has to abide by both state and federal laws regarding labor, antitrust, and sports gambling regulations. While the league operates largely through its own internal rules, it is not exempt from local laws, such as those governing business operations or player/staff safety.
However, the NFL is a private entity, meaning the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment protection against government restrictions on free speech does not apply to team-level discipline.
NFL could threaten to move the superbowl
Meanwhile
Florida could threaten to sue the NFL if it’s deemed they violate Florida state laws
Florida could threaten to force the NFL pay for the remaining balanced owed on the stadiums by pulling public fundings leaving them on the hook.
There’s many different avenues Florida could pursue if threats are made
I’m not saying that the NFL has no need to comply with state or federal laws or that it isn’t exempt from local laws. What I am saying is that whatever the state law is (which is unclear because Florida hasn’t alleged any violation of state laws) or is not, it is unlikely to impact the NFL’s internal policy. And that is because the attorney general continues to make public assertions about the Rooney Rule essentially implying it may be discriminatory without citing any particular state law the NFL is or is not in violation. The real policy that may have some effect on the NFL is federal policy, through the avenues that I previously cited. And it seems that the federal government has no desire to take on the NFL directly, even with the discussions about the SBA and anti-trust revocation coming up recently. After all, the NFL owners are donors to many Congressional campaigns, and the sad reality is money talks in that way.
I do not see how your discussion of the First Amendment relates to the main issue here. Yes, the First Amendment protection does not apply to private parties (as you cite with the NFL and the teams). Are you citing it in regard to the ability of the NFL to tell a team to relocate? (as the original post suggested) The First Amendment wouldn’t reach the core of that issue. The owners would have to approve of relocation and it is doubtful the NFL would force a takeover of a team as a fallback just to prove a point about its hiring policy where the First Amendment would not apply.
The avenues you cite are more problematic for Florida than the NFL in the long run. The NFL is currently involved in two lengthy lawsuits (Jon Gruden, and the Brian Flores discrimination case) and I doubt the NFL with its finances is adverse to another long litigation battle. Forcing the state in a long and costly legal fight probably hurts Florida more. It is also doubtful that pulling public funding and demanding the NFL pick up the balance owed on the stadiums would damage the NFL. I would think that would give the teams more justification to break their leases and claim a breach and seek to move elsewhere in that event.
First amendment applies cause if the NFL suspends a player for comments they have every right to do so despite receiving billions worth of government funded money
Typically any entity that receives government money must also respect rights of employees just as the government would
Doesn’t apply to the NFL
I’m afraid I still don’t know where you are going with the First Amendment discussion as it relates to the Rooney Rule. Suspending a player for their comments is not a First Amendment issue because the NFL is not a government actor. The First Amendment does not apply to the NFL as a private party. A relevant comparison is the Jimmy Kimmel situation with Disney. When Disney pulled his show from television, it was a private company regulating speech. Regardless of one’s personal thoughts about that situation, Disney did have the right to discipline and regulate his speech activity. A private company is permitted to regulate the speech of its employees. When the NFL instituted its policy requiring players to stand for the national anthem or remain in the locker room instead of kneeling in protest (and face discipline from the league for protesting on the field), that too was legal regulation of speech and expressive conduct.
Whether or not the NFL receives government funding does not equate to First Amendment state action. The First Amendment applies only to government actors – federal, state, and local governments. The NFL is not a state actor. It is a private party, it is a private for-profit entity. The fact that a private company receives government funding does not mean it automatically becomes a state actor. There must be more involvement with the government or the entity must take on traditional government functions in order for a private entity to be deemed a state actor.
It may be true that a typical entity that receives government funding must respect the rights of employees as the government would, but the First Amendment does not operate in this way.
How long til they realize it was probably a mistake to leave this comment section open?
How many tyrants throughout history mistakenly thought censorship would prevent rebellion and keep them safe?
You know, most people actually read a comment before replying to it.
You have to be faster than that if you want to stay ahead of AI 🙂
I’ve heard better comebacks from a turkey sandwich
Florida where holding immigrants in a circus tent (Alligator Alcatraz) with cages in the middle of a swamp is accepted.
illegal aliens…fify
And yet those illegals willingly came here knowing such a possibility existed, so it must be better than what they left. If not, they’re welcome to go right back.
They can always switch swamps and visit Disneyworld 🙂
I represent Senator Elizabeth Warren and I’m mad as hell about this! Me and the Senator who both have 1/100000 native American blood will fight this to the butter end. Just don’t call me a race baiter, liar, or a libtard!!
BS on your bloodline….this ain’t the ‘60s and everybody ain’t part Cherokee! Grow up
Like the WWE wrestling lady being hired by Chump to the Department of Education?
The WWE lady who was a member of the Connecticut State Board of Education and was on the Board of Trustees at Sacred Heart University? You left that part out of her credentials. Also, it’s President Trump, to you.
When chasing ambulances seizes to be lucrative, a lawyer sues the NFL or looks to represent someone else who want’s to sue the NFL 🙂
Seizes lol
Well damn I always thought my 4th amendment rights protected me from illegal searches and seizures
But I guess the 4th protects me against illegal search and cease-ures
You two should just calm down and declare a seize-fire. 🙂
In my defense I thought cease, seize and sheesh were interchangeable 🙂
Remember, the Rooney Rule was Art Rooney’s compromise measure to appease race-baiter Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow-PUSH activists/extortionists. Times have changed. Jesse Jackson and Art Rooney are both dead. The Rooney Rule should die with them. The Rooney Rule didn’t create one minority member hired head coach, but it did get a bunch of guys to unfairly get their hopes up just to comply with a stupid rule.
And not to mention there were a small group of guys that were pawns to get those token interviews with no chance of getting the actual job. It took them a minute, but they finally realized it and declined, saying interview someone else. The token interviews might have checked a box but did nobody any favors.
So much going on in the world and this country that needs fixing and the Attorney General is concerned about the Rooney rule. What idiots are running this country? I think we all know.
What does the Florida AG have to do with anything going on in the world? Or in this country? How can the Florida state AG change any of that? “What idiots…”‘ projection much?
It’s really dumb when a black GM has to interview a black HC candidate because of the Rooney Rule.
How much power do you think a states attorney general has lol?
Hint: if it involves anything outside Florida. None.
Speaking of idiot Attorney Generals, how about Virginia’s? You’d think he’d have more to be concerned about than trying to blunder through what’s he’s been doing and can’t spell or even cite the proper SC he’s targeting.
You mean this guy?
“Democratic Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones faced intense backlash and apologized for text messages sent in 2022 that discussed killing a Republican colleague and wishing death on his children”.
Yeah, that’s the guy. And just this week:
“Democrats in Virginia apparently filed their redistricting appeal to the wrong Supreme Court, drawing even more mockery in a heated battle over the district lines of the state’s congressional map.
Jason Miyares, the former attorney general of Virginia, led the criticism online on Tuesday, pointing to a previous mistake where Democrats spelled the commonwealth’s name incorrectly on legal documents.
“Good news: Dems managed to spell Virginia correctly,” Miyares said in a post to X. “Bad news: They sent their emergency application to SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) to the wrong court.”
He was also one to point out on Friday Democrats’ misspelling of the state as “Virgnia” rather than “Virginia” in their filing to the Supreme Court. In that same mistake-riddled document, they wrote “Sentator” instead of Senator.”
Came here to say something snarky but sooo many DB comments above from haters on both sides kinda took all the wind out.