Rooney Rule - discussion, keep it respectful

[Danchinho]

Out of interest, why are so many posters upset with the Rooney rule?
A quick cursory search by me indicates only around 20-25% of players are white but around 75% of coaches are white and all the majority owners are white.
Those numbers don’t paint the prettiest of pictures tbh.

It does indicate a bias. By whom or for what reasons I couldn’t possibly say. Odd stats though.

Are the people on here or in general that are so upset by the rule people of colour or mostly/exclusively white?

[Danchinho]

If the Rooney rule is racist, who does it discriminate against?

Which coaches didn’t get the job because another candidate had to be interviewed?

I can’t say if minority coaches feel it’s insulting to be interviewed. Has anyone ever asked them rather than just speaking on their behalf?

To Raiderfan1. I’m English and my country is NOT a meritocracy. My wife worked for an American company for a while. That company, though successful was not a strict meritocracy either. Enough people of merit were in key positions to make it successful, just like some English firms. but at the same time, enough folks were hired based on who they knew, what private school or top universities they went to, they were from an upper middle or upper class background (applicable in England). Not optimal hires. Bet that goes on everywhere.

[Goodtimes333]

If the Rooney rule is racist, who does it discriminate against?

Which coaches didn’t get the job because another candidate had to be interviewed?

I can’t say if minority coaches feel it’s insulting to be interviewed. Has anyone ever asked them rather than just speaking on their behalf?

To Raiderfan1. I’m English and my country is NOT a meritocracy. My wife worked for an American company for a while. That company, though successful was not a strict meritocracy either. Enough people of merit were in key positions to make it successful, just like some English firms. but at the same time, enough folks were hired based on who they knew, what private school or top universities they went to, they were from an upper middle or upper class background (applicable in England). Not optimal hires. Bet that goes on everywhere.

It discriminated against the owner who can make whatever choice they want to run the football team they own. Just kidding, there's actually no discrimination involved in the whole picture. That's the thing. In an ultra competitive environment that is the NFL the best candidate for the job will get the job. It's that simple. You have the human element of getting along, perception of character and vision for team, scheme, staff connections etc. If you're looking to be offended by something you'll find it. I hope you stay safe in England, it's the year 2026 and all that. Your internet posts can get you jailed for opinion and the knife/machette attacks n' what not

[Attyla]

If the Rooney rule is racist, who does it discriminate against?

Which coaches didn’t get the job because another candidate had to be interviewed?

I can’t say if minority coaches feel it’s insulting to be interviewed. Has anyone ever asked them rather than just speaking on their behalf?

To Raiderfan1. I’m English and my country is NOT a meritocracy. My wife worked for an American company for a while. That company, though successful was not a strict meritocracy either. Enough people of merit were in key positions to make it successful, just like some English firms. but at the same time, enough folks were hired based on who they knew, what private school or top universities they went to, they were from an upper middle or upper class background (applicable in England). Not optimal hires. Bet that goes on everywhere.

I actually think it hurts black coaches. How many times did we interview Lofton for our head coach position simply to skirt the rule? And this after Davis hired the first black coach in the Super Bowl era. This team has a history of championing minority hires only to see Doofus skirt the rule to hire Gruden. Skirt is probably the wrong word but the league all knows he did a sham interview to get his prized coach. If the league wants to fix minority hiring, the rule is not working to do so. I do not know the answer, but if a team wants a certain coach, like Harbaugh, we all know they are going to rush through fake interviews to get their guy.

[skullnbonz]

First, as a white male, I don't entirely feel that it's my place to say there shouldn't be a rule like this.

I don't think the rule is ideal - but I'm not sure if there is an ideal solution. The reality is that the owners are a group of old white men and you might get biased hiring practices, either intentional or unintentional.

It sucks that guys get tagged as "just a Rooney candidate" sometimes. It does pressure teams to expand their reach a bit and gets a few guys in the interview room who otherwise might not have been on the list. Whether that helps or not is up for debate.

I guess my attitude is that it might not solve a problem, but it also might not be a problem. It slows down an interview process a bit, but it slows it down for every other team as well so it's likely that the same candidates are still available to the same number of teams.

It's a bit of a "meh" for me. I pay attention to it to be aware of where we are in the hiring process.

I’m a white male. Would you please let me know what other topics I shouldn’t be allowed to “have a place” to comment on?

[raider_kin]

But when you see messages on the backs of player's helmets, doesn't it make you want to CHOOSE LOVE?

Surely there have been many men about to commit a heinous crime, but then read the back of a player's helmet and decided to dedicate their life to couples therapy.

Same with 'gun free zone' signs. Yeah, that'll stop 'em.

[raider_kin]

It still applies.

What if the interviewee is one of your own position coaches. Does that qualify?

[chucker]

I’m a white male. Would you please let me know what other topics I shouldn’t be allowed to “have a place” to comment on?

YMMV. Comment on whatever you want.

[Attyla]

Same with 'gun free zone' signs. Yeah, that'll stop 'em.

Before we went remote, our front door had a silhouette of a handgun with a red circle and slash through it. I asked if I could bring an assault rifle to work since it would not be a handgun. It was a joke but I actually caught shit for the question.

[SkullCrusher]

It's a rule, deal with it, they will. It's only cared when your team is currently needing to abide by it, so it's a selfish discussion now at it's core.

[Attyla]

It's a rule, deal with it, they will. It's only cared when your team is currently needing to abide by it, so it's a selfish discussion now at it's core.

No it is not selfish. It is a rule with flaws. The league has even stated they are revisiting it because of its flaws. And we are one of those current teams that had to abide by it so it is relevant. There is nothing selfish about discussion. Like anything, there will be people who make it personal and others who are offended that we even entertain to discuss it.

[chucker]

What if the interviewee is one of your own position coaches. Does that qualify?

In order to qualify as a Rooney Rule candidate to fulfill the requirements of the rule, the team needs to interview external candidates.

[Danchinho]

It discriminated against the owner who can make whatever choice they want to run the football team they own. Just kidding, there's actually no discrimination involved in the whole picture. That's the thing. In an ultra competitive environment that is the NFL the best candidate for the job will get the job. It's that simple. You have the human element of getting along, perception of character and vision for team, scheme, staff connections etc. If you're looking to be offended by something you'll find it. I hope you stay safe in England, it's the year 2026 and all that. Your internet posts can get you jailed for opinion and the knife/machette attacks n' what not

I’m safe, thank you for the positive thoughts!

I’m curious, what do you mean by the last sentence? Genuinely?

[Goodtimes333]

I’m safe, thank you for the positive thoughts!

I’m curious, what do you mean by the last sentence? Genuinely?

I genuinely hope you stay safe. It saddens me to see the state of the UK. There's a lot of injustice happening to the citizens of your nation. I don't wanna get further as it's political, but my authentic sentiment is there

[Attyla]

In order to qualify as a Rooney Rule candidate to fulfill the requirements of the rule, the team needs to interview external candidates.

Do you know the reasoning. That seems arbitrary to me.

[Corleone]

No it is not selfish. It is a rule with flaws.

Many flaws, for example, only giving two third round picks for the team losing the black coach is pretty racist. Should be at least 3 third rounders, a 4th round pick and the right to have Maxx Crosby say good things about you on his podcast for at least 1 week. Anything less than that isn't going to stop racism, and isn't that the ultimate goal?