The NFL has a very real problem when it comes to minority hiring, both at the general manager and head coaching levels, and some recent proposals have caused more harm than good.
Currently, the NFL features just two minority general managers and four minority head coaches despite a deep and diverse pool of minority scouts, assistant coaches and executives.
The Athletic’s Michael Lombardi has seen these issue firsthand. He spent time in front offices across the NFL, including with the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. And from the outside looking in here in 2020, Lombardi believes the New York Giants are a “perfect example” of the flawed minority hiring system.
As an example, the New York Giants recently hired special teams coach Joe Judge from the Patriots as their head coach, even though their own special teams coach Thomas McGaughey, who is African American, is one of the league’s best and brightest. This is not a knock on Judge as a coach or a potential head coach. It’s more of an example of how things operate in the coaching search. McCaughey has more experience than Judge, played briefly in the league and started coaching when Judge was still in high school. McGaughey has been around successful programs and has paid his dues in the coaching ranks. Yet he never had a chance. Why? Many might say because he is a minority, which might have some truth, but it’s also because McGaughey was not electable to the media or fans.
While special teams coaches are never going to be household names that fans will get excited about, Judge had some cache because of his association with the Patriots, which helped John Mara, the president of the Giants, get him elected. McGaughey might be the better coach, but coming off two losing seasons, he was just not electable. The fact that Judge retained McGaughey on his staff based on the recommendations of Mara and the front office is a telltale sign the Giants recognize he is a quality coach, but to them he’s not electable for a bigger gig right now.
There’s little doubt McGaughey, who is great with players, is a top-end assistant coach and deserves a look at a higher-ranking position, but as Lombardi notes, he was a holdover from a previous failed regime and the Giants wouldn’t have been able to sell that hire.
In an effort to improve upon these issues, NFL owners approved some modifications to The Rooney Rule this past Tuesday. Teams must now interview two external minority candidates for any vacant head coaching position and one external minority candidate for any vacant coordinator position.
Additionally, teams must interview one external minority candidate for any vacant senior football operations and general manager job, as well as establish minority coaching fellowship programs.
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