The NFL has created a diversity advisory committee after the Brian Flores lawsuit. This is to review its hiring policies and practices with a “focus on senior-level coach and front office personnel positions”. The committee came into existence “in light of ongoing concerns over a lack of diversity in hiring,” the league said.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a racial discrimination complaint against NFL and its 3 franchises last month. Rick Smith, the former general manager of the Houston Texans, Peter Harvey, the former New Jersey attorney general, Don Thompson, the CEO and founder of Cleveland Avenue and former president and CEO of the McDonald’s Corporation and Pamela Carlton, the founder, and president of Springboard are among the committee’s members.
“We’ve worked for years and made progress in many areas to ensure that staff and leaders in our office and at our clubs reflect the racial and gender makeup of America, but we have more work to do, particularly at the head coach and front-office level,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
NFL’s 32 teams issued a statement
The statement came while the NFL owners were convening in Palm Beach, Florida for their annual league meetings. The NFL’s 32 teams issued a statement addressing diversity in the league. Thus, saying they will commit to improving diversity among ownership groups in particular.
“Accordingly, when evaluating a prospective ownership group of a member club pursuant to League policies, the membership will regard it as a positive and meaningful factor if the group includes diverse individuals who would have a significant equity stake in and involvement with the club, including serving as the controlling owner of the club,” the teams’ said in their statement.
Goodell recognized that NFL fell short by “a long shot” of assuring head coaching chances for Black and minority applicants. Hence, promising to reassess the league’s policy. After Brian Flores filed his case in February, he addressed the issue of diversity.
