Florida Attorney General Challenges NFL’s Rooney Rule

There’s something about being from Florida that just stands out—it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride.

On Wednesday, State Attorney General James Usmayer reached out to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, urging him to abolish the Rooney Rule. This rule mandates that NFL teams conduct at least two interviews with candidates from underrepresented backgrounds before making hiring decisions.

Lawmakers in Florida have criticized the Rooney Rule, labeling it as “blatant racism and sexism” and asserting it’s “unlawful.” Usmayer noted that the NFL’s version of the Rooney Rule, which pertains to hiring team executives and coaches, significantly conflicts with Florida law, particularly in its “diversity” practices.

The letter went on to say, “Florida Civil Rights Law prohibits employers from failing to employ individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or marital status.” It emphasized that the law also applies to apprenticeship or training admission programs, asserting that demands for applicants to be segregated or classified by race or gender may limit their employment opportunities.

Interestingly, Troy Vincent Sr., the NFL’s executive vice president of operations, has previously acknowledged the need for a “work culture that doesn’t require mandatory interviews for people of color and minorities.” Usmayer remarked that it’s time to stop hiring based on race or gender. He stressed the importance of merit-based hiring in the NFL, voicing that fans are primarily concerned with how well coaches perform, not their race.

Usmayer concluded his letter by requesting that Goodell confirm by May 1, 2026, that the NFL will discontinue enforcing the Rooney Rule or any related policies that require Florida teams to consider race or gender in hiring. He warned that failing to provide such confirmation could lead to civil rights enforcement actions.

It appears there’s pressure on Goodell to respond promptly.