NFL executive lauds ‘historic progress’ in 2021 minority hiring

NFL executive Troy Vincent celebrated what he said was “historic progress” in minority hiring within the league in 2021. 

In an interview with The Associated Press published Thursday, Vincent said that interview requests for front office position and open hires of minority candidates in the league doubled from 2020. 

“Except for the head coaching positions, overall there was significant and historic progress for minority hiring in 2021,” Vincent told the newswire.  

“Statistically, 47% of interview requests for coaches, coordinators and GMs were for minority candidates, and 35% of open hires went to minorities, nearly doubling 2020 in both interviews and hires,” Vincent continued. 

The league entered another hiring period this week amid the search for head coaches to fill open positions, the AP reported. 

Vincent, a five-time Pro Bowl player and former president of the NFL Players Association, also said he hopes minority hiring becomes so common that there won’t be a need for the “Rooney Rule.”

According to the AP, the “Rooney Rule” (implemented in 2003), requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates for front office, head coach and all coordinator positions.  

Even though 27 out of 127 head coaching jobs went to minorities in the past, only one Black head coach was hired for seven available openings in 2021. Thirteen Black coordinators and three general managers were hired by league teams this year. 

“In 2003, the Rooney Rule was a necessary tool toward promoting fair and equitable hiring,” Vincent said.  

“Now we are reimagining hiring practices taking into consideration tenure, impact, stability, and financial risk reduction resulting in better informed decisions. It’s not about percentages, it’s about intentionally normalizing fairness, inclusivity and opportunity as an extension of football for all.”

The latest comments from Vincent come after the league launched an investigation after former player and position coach Eugene Chung, who is of Korean descent, said he was told he was not the “right minority” while interviewing for a job. 

The NFL said it can’t confirm Chung’s allegations of discrimination after conducting the investigation.