PHOENIX \u2014 NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday responded to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who had sent a letter to the commissioner threatening legal action if the NFL doesn\u2019t abolish the Rooney Rule.<\/p>\n
Goodell said the NFL believes in the Rooney Rule and its goal to identify diverse candidates in the hiring process.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWell, one thing that doesn’t change is our values. We believe diversity has been a benefit to the National Football League. We are well aware of the laws,\u201d Goodell said at the NFL owners meeting. \u201cWe think the Rooney Rule is consistent with those.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe certainly will engage with the Florida AG or anybody else, as we have in the past, to talk about our policies and what they are. The Rooney Rule is not that hiring mandate. It’s intended to try to help, and it’s been used by industries far beyond football, far beyond the United States, to help identify candidates and a diverse set of candidates bringing better talent and give us an opportunity to hire the best talent, ultimately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goodell\u2019s response came after Uthmeier said, in a video posted<\/a> on social media, that the Rooney Rule “violates Florida law by requiring race-based considerations in hiring.”<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Rooney Rule was originally established in 2003 to increase diversity in coaching and management. The rule has come under fire in recent years by both proponents and detractors.<\/p>\n Out of the 10 head coaching jobs available during the 2026 hiring cycle, Robert Saleh, hired by the Tennessee Titans, represents the only minority hire this year. There are just three Black head coaches in the NFL<\/a>.<\/p>\n Goodell later reiterated the Rooney Rule isn\u2019t going away.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cThe Rooney Rule has been around a long time. We\u2019ve evolved it and changed it. We\u2019ll continue to do that,\u201d Goodell said.<\/p>\n Here are other highlights from Goodell’s press conference at the NFL owners meetings:<\/p>\n Roger Goodell backed ‘reimagined’ accelerator\u00a0program<\/p>\n The NFL launched the accelerator\u00a0program in 2022. It was intended to increase diversity in leadership roles. The league paused the program in 2025 to be \u201creimagined” and the NFL is bringing back the program in May. It will now include nonminority participants.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI think it’s about, you know, giving our employees that are in the league a chance to continue to expand their horizons, their abilities, educate them more on other aspects of the league so they can play different roles in the league,\u201d Goodell said.<\/p>\n NFL’s stalled talks with NFL Referees Association<\/p>\n The gridlock between the NFL and NFL Referees Association has been chronicled throughout the owners meetings<\/a>. The NFL approved the league\u2019s officiating department<\/a> to correct clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game, in the event that there is a referee work stoppage and it has to use replacement refs.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Goodell confirmed that negotiations between the NFL and NFL Referees Association haven\u2019t progressed as the NFL Referees Association\u2019s CBA is set to expire on May 31.<\/p>\n \u201cThe negotiations haven’t progressed the way we hoped, from a timing standpoint,\u201d Goodell said.<\/p>\n Super Bowl 63<\/p>\n The NFL named Las Vegas the host city of Super Bowl 63<\/a> on Monday. When Super Bowl 63 comes to Las Vegas in 2029, it\u2019ll mark the second time the city\u2019s hosted the Super Bowl in a five-year span. <\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cWell, one of the great things about Super Bowl, or the draft, or, frankly, most any event, I think every city takes it, and I think they put their signature on,\u201d Goodell said. \u201cI think Las Vegas did that.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no doubt Las Vegas will raise the bar from their previous Super Bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n Flag football<\/p>\n The NFL is invested in flag football. It committed $32 million<\/a> to flag football a few months ago. Then, on Monday, the NFL announced the launch of a new flag football league<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a coincidence the NFL\u2019s flag football push comes within a couple years of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where flag football will be among the sports.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it’d be great for football. I think it’d be great for fans,\u201d Goodell said. \u201cI think it’s a way our game is accessible, through flag football on a global basis. It’s helping us internationally. I think the Olympics are going to be a wonderful stage for us to show that off. So, we’re looking forward to LA.\u201d<\/p>\n Goodell said he thinks NFL players will participate<\/a> in flag football in the 2028 Olympics.<\/p>\n Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X\u00a0@TheTylerDragon<\/a>.<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Highlights from Roger Goodell press conference at NFL owners meetings<\/a><\/p>\n