The NFL approved a new rule Tuesday that would reward teams for developing minority coaches and executives that go on to become a head coach or general manager with another team.
Teams would receive two third-round compensatory draft picks if they lose a minority coach or executive to a head coach or general manager job. The draft picks would be spread across two years.
The new rule is aimed at improving diversity among the league’s coaching and scouting ranks. The NFL went into the 2020 season with only four minority head coaches (three Black and one Latino), though an additional two are now serving as interims. Washington’s Ron Rivera was the only minority candidate to fill a team’s head coaching vacancy this past offseason out of five job openings.
The rule, which was introduced by the NFL’s workplace diversity committee, has further specifics. For example, for a team to receive the draft picks, that coach must be with that club for at least two years. And a team wouldn’t be eligible for the compensation if they hire a minority coach or executive whose most recent job was the top job. (So, for example, Carolina would not have been rewarded this past offseason after Washington hired Rivera)
Tuesday’s rule is a variation of an older proposal that would have actually incentivized teams for hiring minority candidates to top positions. Under the old proposal, for instance, a team would have moved up six spots in the third round for hiring a minority head coach. But the idea was tabled in May and eventually altered.
