Florida’s Attorney General to NFL on Rooney Rule

Florida’s top law enforcement official announced plans to notify NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that the Rooney Rule, which mandates interviews with minority candidates, is considered illegal in Florida.

This rule, created in memory of the late Dan Rooney, former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, went into effect back in 2003. Its introduction followed the firings of black coaches Tony Dungy and Dennis Green, despite their impressive records.

Attorney General James Usmayer pointed out that Florida is home to three NFL teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins. He emphasized, however, that the state’s legislature is looking into enforcement actions.

In a letter to Goodell, Usmayer expressed his well wishes to the Miami Dolphins regarding their new head coach but also cautioned about the NFL’s current employment policies tied to race and gender. He urged the NFL to rethink these policies, highlighting the potential conflict with Florida law.

He mentioned that Goodell has until May 1 to confirm whether the NFL plans to continue enforcing the Rooney Rule or risk civil rights enforcement actions. Usmayer discussed how the rule can be seen as discriminatory, noting that while players are drafted based on merit, hiring practices for other roles should follow suit.

“NFL teams don’t hire offensive linemen based on race. So why should hiring for front office positions be influenced by such considerations?” he questioned, adding that the NFL should not expect preferential treatment regarding compliance with state laws.

In the letter, Usmayer criticized the Rooney Rule’s outreach to include women, as well as the practice of rewarding teams with draft picks for promoting minority candidates. He claimed these practices contravene Florida laws prohibiting hiring based on race or gender.

“The Rooney Rule leads to limitations that the law seeks to eliminate. It essentially segregates candidates for certain roles based on race or gender, thus restricting opportunities,” he pointed out.

Usmayer reiterated firmly that the Rooney Rule, including its extensions, is in violation of Florida’s regulations.

As of now, there has been no response from the NFL regarding this matter.