Under the scorching California sun, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell knew full well he would be grilled by reporters at the annual pre-Super Bowl press conference on Wednesday.
Two hot topics were on the menu: racism and discrimination in hiring. Other issues did not make the league shine any better, such as threats to the integrity of the sport and the misconduct of certain players and members of team management.
A week after ex-Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, a black man, filed a lawsuit alleging the NFL engaged in racist practices and that team owner Stephen Ross offered him money to lose, Goodell promised to act on both fronts.
“We will not tolerate racism. We will not tolerate discrimination, the commissioner said. All of the allegations were very troubling to me. These are very serious matters for us at all levels and we must ensure that we get to the bottom of things in all these files. »
It starts with the NFL’s very poor record of hiring minority people into head coaching positions. Although we see an improvement in other types of jobs, from general managers to coordinators, the most visible representative of a team remains the head coach. There are currently five minority head coaches out of 32 teams. By comparison, 70% of NFL players are black.
Asked if the hiring process is flawed, starting with how interviews are conducted and by whom, Goodell said the league is already addressing the issue. The solution could involve modifying the Rooney rule, which obliges teams to invite minority candidates for interviews, or even creating a new rule.
The league, with the help of an independent firm, has been working to establish a procedure for several months. A document that should be sent to the teams in the spring. It is hoped that this approach will optimize the process of hiring future head coaches.
As for losing bonuses, Flores alleges that in 2019, he was offered $100,000 per Dolphins loss because his bosses were aiming for the No. 1 draft pick. This serious denunciation is also the subject of an investigation by the NFL.
What could have been a nice, sunny gathering ahead of the Super Bowl, instead turned into an inquisition on a host of controversial topics.
Goodell had to defend himself over the NFL’s lack of action on the Washington Commanders’ toxic work environment; on Saints running back Alvin Kamara fresh out of jail after being charged with assault; on businessman Byron Allen’s interest in buying the Denver Broncos, making him the only black owner in the league.