Brian Flores Lawsuit Puts NFL Rooney Rule at a Crossroads
What's Going On
ESPN published a major investigative piece -- by Kris Rhim, Kalyn Kahler, and Jason Reid -- detailing how the NFL's Rooney Rule has reached a breaking point. More than 20 coaches, agents, and executives spoke on the record or anonymously about a policy that many of its intended beneficiaries say is rigged against them.
The timing matters. Brian Flores' class-action lawsuit against the NFL is moving toward a federal trial, and the 2026 hiring cycle just produced a stark result: 10 head coaching vacancies opened, and only one went to a minority candidate.
The Rooney Rule, Briefly
The rule was established in 2003 and originally required teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching vacancies. It has been expanded over the years and now requires at least two external minority candidate interviews for head coach openings and one for key coordinator spots.
A 2022 expansion mandated that all 32 teams hire a minority offensive assistant, with the league reimbursing half the salary. That mandate was quietly dropped before the 2025 season. The NFL also softened language on its website, removing language that said the rule "aims to increase the number of minorities hired" and replacing it with language about expanding "the pool of candidates considered."