One of the prominent offseason rule changes could affect how franchises approach the hiring of minority head coaches.
The Rooney Rule is a policy that requires NFL teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. The system has been in effect since 2003 and has recently become a hot topic of discussion this offseason. The league is exploring the possibility of proposing to upgrade the draft picks of teams who hired minority coaches and kept them in that position for over a year.
The topic has had its share of criticisms, and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the issue during Friday’s virtual press conference, specifically in reference to how the rule relates to offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
”First of all, keep being you. That’s the most important thing and it’s gotten him to this point. He’ll have an opportunity here as a head coach,” said Reid. ”Listen, I think anything that helps opportunity, I’m good with as long as it doesn’t put that person in a bind or disadvantage coming in whatever it is. I think in Eric’s situation and everybody that interviews, you’re in there for only a couple of hours with the owners. So, do they really get to know you in that time? I wish there was an extended period of time where they got to visit with you. Owners are always having to cram in these interviews, but to actually get enough time to get to know what the person is all about. I think that becomes an important thing. The more you’re with Eric Bieniemy, the more you appreciate him and understand him and know he’s a great leader of men. Does an owner really have that time, or are we rushing? Some of it’s our schedule because of the playoffs. Are we rushing in and ‘OK, I have to get these three interviews done. Boom. Boom. Boom.’ And does that owner actually see the worth in that person interviewing? So, I worry more about those kinds of things. Eric has had opportunities to interview, but it’s always a bang-bang thing. You get a couple hours and then you’re out. I mean, how well do you get to know a guy in a couple hours?”
Bieniemy was infamously passed on by several teams at the end of the past two seasons for a head coaching jobs, despite interviewing with multiple teams. Many colleagues around the league view him as most deserving of an opportunity leading to speculation that the Rooney Rule needs to be updated.
“Well, I think there are plenty of candidates that are more than qualified,” said Bienemy during Thursday’s press conference. “I think that one thing that popped up was, some assistant coaches are now going to have an opportunity to interview. I think that’s huge; I think that’s huge across the board regardless of skin color, it doesn’t make a difference. Now you get an opportunity to interview the best football coach for that particular position. I think one thing with all this discussion being brought to the table just opened up different doors for many different people. Like I said, when it’s all said and done with, my job is to make sure I’m focused on what we’re doing. But yes, I am happy that that was passed so those guys can have an opportunity. But understanding that, hell, I’ve got a job to do. We’re focused on what we need to get better at this particular time and what’s going to make us the best team when we hit the ground running.”
Since 2003’s institution of the Rooney Rule, only 15 African American head coaches have been hired in the league. Bienemy will continue to spearhead one of the league’s most explosive and innovative offenses once the 2020 season is officially underway. Hopefully, a head coaching opportunity awaits Bieniemy in the near future.