Goodell Speaks Up After Coaching Cycle
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell used Super Bowl week to voice frustration that none of the 10 head coaching openings this offseason were filled by Black candidates. He told reporters the league needs to “do more” and that it will reassess how the Rooney Rule is working. Goodell emphasized compliance paperwork was followed and many teams interviewed multiple minority candidates. Still, he said the result was not acceptable to league leadership and signaled a review of policies tied to diversity and hiring practices.
What the Rooney Rule Actually Does
The Rooney Rule requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates for head coach jobs. It does not force owners to hire anyone. The goal is to make sure minority candidates get a look. Teams mostly met or exceeded that interview minimum this cycle, according to the commissioner. So the process was followed. What changed is the outcome. The league office appears upset that interviews did not turn into hires this year.
Owners Hire Coaches To Win Games
Owners do not hire coaches to balance a spreadsheet of diversity metrics. They hire coaches they think will win. If a candidate convinces an owner they can deliver wins, that candidate gets the job. If not, they do not. That is how professional sports work. The push from the league office to reexamine hiring rules raises questions about how much influence the commissioner should have over owners who pay for and run their franchises.
Fans See Political Theater, Not Just Football
At the same time the commissioner is pushing for more diverse outcomes, many fans feel the NFL has drifted from simple entertainment into political messaging. The Super Bowl halftime show and other high profile moments have featured performers who mix politics and music. That frustrates some viewers who want Sunday to be about the game and not a platform for progressive activism. The result is a chunk of fans saying they no longer watch the league the way they used to.
Reevaluation May Not Win Back Viewers
Revisiting the Rooney Rule could change interview rules or add incentives for hiring minorities. That might make the league office feel better. It will not necessarily bring back viewers who left because of politics on the field and on stage. Fans left over anthem protests years ago. Many are not returning just because league rules change. Winning games and great on field drama are what rebuilds audiences, not more press conferences about process.
"We still have more work to do."
—Roger Goodell on the NFL hiring zero Black head coaches this cycle. pic.twitter.com/MxDFvuoeQv
— ESPN (@espn) February 3, 2026
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JIMMY
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