(The Center Square) \u2013 NFL representatives have been subpoenaed to Florida on June 12 to answer questions on the Rooney Rule, a hiring protocol state Attorney General James Uthmeier says should be suspended.<\/p>\n
Florida is home to the NFL\u2019s Jaguars in Jacksonville<\/a>, Buccaneers in Tampa and Dolphins in Miami<\/a>. Originally implemented in 2003, the rule is named for former Steelers<\/a> owner Dan Rooney and was created in response to a report from Cyrus Mehri and Johnnie Cochran pointing out racial disparities and only two Black head coaches in the league.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Today, it requires two external minority candidates for vacancies of head coach, general manager or coordinator positions. At least one minority candidate must be interviewed for the quarterbacks coach position.<\/p>\n It does not have a hiring quota or mandate.<\/p>\n The NFL, in a May 1 response to Uthmeier, wrote in part, \u201cImportantly, the Rooney Rule does not impose any hiring quotas or mandates, and it does not license clubs to consider race or sex in making hiring decisions. Hiring decisions for NFL teams are made by the individual clubs \u2013 not the League \u2013 and those decisions are based on merit.\u201d<\/p>\n The NFL adjusted language on its website after Uthmeier\u2019s initial letter, and the attorney general said he was grateful. His first letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell in March said the rule was \u201cblatant race and sex discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n He said he still had more questions.<\/p>\n \u201cAll in all, the Rooney Rule and the NFL\u2019s related \u2018inclusive hiring\u2019 policies \u2013 and the NFL\u2019s representations about these policies \u2013 continue to raise significant concerns under Florida law,\u201d the prosecutor wrote.<\/p>\n