New study: Minority coaches still fare worse during NFL hiring process

African Americans and other minorities don’t have the same opportunities as white people to become head coaches in the NFL or get rehired after leaving a head coaching position, according to a recent working paper.

While the 2003 enactment of the league’s overhauled hiring guidelines and mandates, dubbed the “Rooney Rule,” have led to more coaches of color leading teams on a yearly basis, researchers found that minorities still fare worse when it comes to hiring, retaining their positions and being granted “second chances” at head positions.

The working paper, which studied the race, prior experience and future experience for head coaches and offensive and defensive coordinators over 10 years (2009 through 2018), was conducted by the Global Sport Institute at Arizona State University along with the Paul Robeson Research Center for Innovative Academic & Athletic Prowess at the University of Central Florida College of Business.