Inclusive Hiring

Building a diverse pipeline of coaches and front office candidates is key to the NFL’s continued success.

The NFL and its clubs have created many programs to promote inclusion in coaching and front office roles — programs that go well beyond the Rooney Rule. By nurturing a more diverse pool of coaches and executives, the NFL makes the game stronger and more inclusive, and can ultimately render the Rooney Rule unnecessary.

“We should be creating a workplace culture that doesn’t require mandates to interview people of color and minorities," said Troy Vincent, Sr., Executive Vice President of NFL Football Operations. "They should be doing the right thing for the right reasons, not because there’s a policy.”

Developing the Pipeline

Although hiring decisions are made by owners of all 32 NFL clubs, the league is working to expand the pool of diverse candidates available during each hiring cycle. Through these initiatives, the league provides more opportunities for diverse coaching and front office candidates.

Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship

Each year, all 32 NFL clubs hire candidates for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. The fellowship is administered by each club and lasts throughout training camp and the preseason. Candidates are selected based on NFL playing experience or coaching experience in high school, college, or professional football.

Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship

The Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship exposes qualified men and women to a career in professional scouting. Open to former college and professional players and college football scouts, the fellowship introduces them to various aspects of college and professional scouting within an NFL club. The fellowship is named after Bill Nunn, Pro Football Hall of Fame member and longtime personnel director for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and John Wooten, an NFL Legend and front-office executive.

In 2021, Ashton Washington became the Chicago Bears’ first full-time female scout after joining the organization through the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship. Washington previously worked for the University of Illinois and Texas Tech University. She now serves as the Bears’ player personnel coordinator.

College All-Star Games

To provide increased opportunities for leading coaching candidates, the NFL has partnered with three leading college all-star games:

• The East-West Shrine Bowl is the nation’s oldest collegiate all-star game. The NFL selects the coaching staff and game officials for the annual East-West Shrine Bowl. Teams choose deserving assistant coaches who get the opportunity to show off their skills in the week before and during the game. In addition, NFL Legends serve as mentors to the Shrine Bowl players and coaches throughout the week.
• The Senior Bowl showcases the top NFL Draft-eligible seniors in the country. The league provides two full coaching, training, video and equipment staffs, as well as Legends Captains to support the game. The game’s Minority Coaching Fellowship program, launched in 2022, adds accomplished HBCU coaches to the Senior Bowl staffs.
• The HBCU Legacy Bowl showcases the best NFL Draft-eligible players from HBCUs.

Networking Opportunities

Promoting networking opportunities is a key component of the NFL’s long-term efforts to promote fair and inclusive hiring practices.

“Networking is currency for professional mobility in the NFL,” said Troy Vincent, Executive VP of NFL Football Operations. “It allows people to get to know one another, build trust, and share goals and aspirations. And it is the key to matching experience with job opportunities.”

Coach and Front Office Accelerator

Established in 2022, the Accelerator program was designed to build a stronger pipeline of talent to the League’s most senior coaching and front office positions by providing leadership development and opportunities for networking directly with club owners. Since its inception, numerous Coach and Front Office Accelerator participants have secured or been promoted to elevated roles across the NFL, underscoring the program’s impact and continued importance. The Accelerator Program is intended to focus on advancing talent from underrepresented groups, while remaining open to qualified senior-level candidates of all backgrounds.

Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum

The Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum gives diverse front office candidates the opportunity to learn from and network with top executives from around the league. The forum, founded in 2021, is presented in partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

“The Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit are part of our ongoing efforts to establish a cultural norm of opportunity for all," said Vincent, Sr. "It's a steadfast commitment to developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.”

Women’s Careers in Football Forum

The Women’s Careers in Football Forum helps the NFL identify women currently working in college football roles to join its next generations of leaders. The Forum includes two days of panel discussions, presentations and breakout sessions. Participants learn from and connect with team owners, general managers, coaches and executives in the NFL and in college football programs.

Since 2017, over 250 opportunities have emerged for women in NFL roles. That number continues to grow in 2024.

HBCU Careers in Football Forum

The NFL is dedicated to increasing opportunities for students and administrators from HBCUs. The HBCU Careers in Football Forum provides HBCU students and entry-level athletic department staff members the chance to learn about careers in the sports industry and the NFL.

STRENGTH THROUGH INCLUSION

Inclusion makes the game stronger, and these programs reflect the league’s ongoing commitment to strengthening opportunity and access across the game.

In some cases, updates to league rules help to facilitate greater inclusion in hiring. In 2020 and 2021, the NFL expanded the Rooney Rule to raise the bar for coaching and front office hiring.