In 2003, the National Football League adopted a rule entitled “The Rooney Rule.” This rule ensures minorities, who want to coach football, they at least one will be interviewed when there is a need for a coach. The problem with that is that it doesn’t guarantee a job for minorities. Over the past two decade, there has been a decline in minority coaches. Not only in head coaching position but in assistant coaching position. This isn’t just a problem for the National Football League. It happens in College football, College Basketball, and high school football. Yearly there are numerous of coaches losing their jobs, resigning, or retiring. There is plenty of opportunities, however minorities are sometimes not even interviewed for the job. Minorities are not represented well in the Rooney Rule, they also are not presented the same opportunity as their Caucasian competitors, and they do not hold notable assistant jobs that will promote them into becoming head coaches. 

The Rooney Rule was implemented to end the shortage of minority coaches in the National Football League. Under that rule a dozen minorities received coaching jobs. Two notables were Tony Dungy, and Lovie Smith. Further down the road there was the hiring of coaches like Marvin Jones, Todd Bowles, Vance Joseph, and Mike Tomlin. However, their careers were cut short. Since Dungy firing, the number of minority hiring has declined. Research has shown that “The path to becoming an NFL head coach is clear. It is also largely unavailable to minorities, especially with Dungy in retirement (Sando). So what happens to those black coaches who happen to be a head coach. Well the only black coach who job is safe is coach Mike Tomlin. He is the coach of the Pittsburg Steelers. Which happens to be the team former owned by Mr. Rooney himself. Todd Bowles is on the hot seat for losing more than eight games this year. While coach Gus Bradley, who is a white head coach of the Jaguars, job is safe and secure. Keep in mind that Gus Bradley has won a total of 5 games in the 3 years he has been coaching the Jags. 

 There aren’t many top assistant jobs held by African American. Jobs like the quarterback coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator. Those jobs seem to be top level assistant jobs. They what experts call foundation jobs. They are the go to guys whenever a new program is looking for a head coach. Again, not many African American hold these positions. Research shows that in the NFL 2016-2017 football season “80 of the NFL's current 85 offensive coordinators, quarterbacks coaches and offensive quality control coaches are white” (Sando). That was 2 times less than less than it was less than a decade ago. There isn’t just a shortage on the assistant level, research shows that “90% of all coaching jobs are occupied by white Americans” (Sando). Even though the NFL has sought out to end this situation, they have failed when looking at the numbers and data that are presented. Even with watching the game on Sunday, you can have a visual whenever the camera is roaming down the sidelines. 

Although minority coaches may have the credentials that should prove they are capable of the job, they are still not hired. One author says that “African Americans had compiled impeccable credentials as NFL assistances over many years without receiving a head coaching opportunity” (Durum 5). The author also argued that it is basically pointless for any African American to try and become a head coach. The author also points out that minority coaches are discriminated from time they apply, or get a job interview. The author stated that “the competition for NFL head coaching position was fundamentally unfair and that African Americans coaches were judged against more exacting standards than their white colleagues” (Duru 21). While another other pointed out that most of the candidates hired, over African American’s usually didn’t produce or didn’t last long with that team long term (Belson). However, some believe that the Rooney rule is a interview based rule only. This mean that African americans were only promised the interview, not jobs. One expert says, “The Rooney Rule requires National Football League teams to interview at least one minority candidate when filling head coaching vacancies” (Staley). Not mentioning that guarantee a fair chance at a job with demographics being an issue. 

Not only is this an issue within front offices of football teams, but it is a reaction that comes down from the NFL Commissioner. One other suggest that this is a politicle issue that comes down from the commissioner. Ever since Roger Goodell accepted positon as NFL commissioner, the author says more African Amercan coaches have lost there jobs. (Belson). The author felt like the commissioner looked at the Rooney differently than what it was implemented to do. He states that commissioner believes “the Ronney Rule says that you have to interview at least one minority” (Pelissero). The last commissioner was the one who took the idea of the owners, and implemented this policy. However, it has lost its track as Roger Goodell has stepped in the commissioner role. Former coach Tony Dungy said to one author that, “The good thing about the Rooney Rule was not that you had to interview a minority candidate but that it slowed the process down and made you do some research," (Sando). Just like me Dungy noticed that the rule hasn’t lived up to its purpose. Dungy says, “but now it seems like in the last few years, people haven't really done what the rule was designed for. It has become, 'Just let me talk to a couple minority coaches very quickly so I can go about the business of hiring the person I really want to hire anyway" (Sando). For a coach, who was one of the reasons why there is a such thing as a Rooney Rule, to speak about the policy like this is quite disturbing. He was the reason why the Rooney Rule was adopted. 

Some may ask, why don’t African Americans speak up about this issue. Research show, “Minority coaches speak cautiously, because they don't want to be labeled as rebels or militants” (Medcalf). This could also play into situations with Colin Kapernick, and his actions that has sparked headlines for the past few months. The author did note that many coaches have hinted towards being disappointed in the discriminatory actions taken by owners and general managers around the league. In a league or in a position where the camera is always on you, can put you in a bad place when you speak about issues such as this. That is the reason why most coaches feel the urge to hold back on what they believe.

Now don’t get me wrong, a lot of coaching firing, resigns, and retiring go on every year. However, with most of the coaches that were fired last season, only one of them hired was black. Four of the five coaches there were fired, and were white had football records below winning requirements. I watch almost every football game every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. I can count on one hand how many minority head coaches who coach NFL football. Research shows that the sum of all minority coaches on all 32 teams are three times less than white coaches.  This brings the number down to six minority head coaches out of 32 teams. However, research shows that the Rooney Rule is paying off. It shows that African American’s are showing that they are more than capable to run a football team. They have better winning percentages, and productions rates. The writer also points out the fact that most teams are predominately black. The connection can be made that white over 80% of the sport population being black, there is a ethical connection with a black head coach. Research shows that, “About one-third of NFL coaches are minorities, while about two-thirds of NFL players are African-American” (Sando). 

So how do you fix this situation? I personally don’t believe hiring black coached justify the end of discrimination in the league. However, research has shown that the NFL has hired two new black coaches last year. This is a sign that the NFL is moving in a better direction when it comes to hiring minority coaches. One author suggests “more African-Americans in the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach roles that have been traditional stepping-stones to head coaching jobs” (Bell). As pointed out earlier in the paper, most of those coaching jobs are vacated by White Americans. I noticed a few school in college football hire minorities. On the University of South Carolina coaching staff there are five African American coaches. Clemson has 5 also. As much as this is an issue, many school, and programs are trying to fix this situation. One writer said that football teams are open more doors to minorities. He says that, “Clubs are casting a wider net” (Bell). The author also says, “A lot of young guys, white and black, are getting chances. The key is that the clubs are stepping up not merely by the letter of the Rule, but in spirit.” I think what would fix this situation the most is simple as a fair shot. A coach of any race should not be deprived of coaching in position. If you take a brief recap of history there was a such thing as the Civil Rights Act. The acts state that you can discriminate anyone based on race in a working, school, or public environment.

Coaching football is my lifelong dream. It wasn’t until I saw the drastic decline where I had to refocus myself on another path. There is no doubt that demographics play a big role in the hiring process. Developing a Rooney rule was essential so African Americans could have a fair chance at getting a coaching job in the National Football League. Tony Dungy was the first black coach to coach since the rule. Then came along five others. However, discrimination in the hiring process in the NFL, and the shortage of African American, and other minorities has become a problem once again. After noticing a shortage, the league implemented a rule to ensure African American’s they have a fair chance at receiving a coaching job. Over the past decade the rule has been misinterpreted, and abandon. Loads, and loads of research show the decline, and show the discrimination. Minorities are not represented well by misinterputation, and misunderstanding of the Rooney rule in which they are not presented with the same opportunities as their white competitors. 
