Roger Goodell: NFL to seek outside help for ‘unacceptable’ lack of diverse head coaches

Four days after announcing that Brian Flores’ claims concerning a racist hiring pattern in the league are “without merit,” the NFL commissioner said authorities will be brought in to evaluate those apparently nonexistent merits.

The NFL is hiring outside experts, Roger Goodell said in a memo released Saturday, to assess the hiring processes whose “results have been unacceptable,” Goodell wrote.

There is one black head coach — Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin — currently employed in the NFL. Flores, who is black, had led the Dolphins for three playoff-less seasons, though most agree he overachieved with teams lacking in talent.

On Tuesday, he filed a class-action lawsuit against the league and all 32 teams — including the Giants, who he says conducted a “sham” interview with him. A text from Bill Belichick suggested the Giants already had settled upon Brian Daboll for the job. The Giants slammed the allegations and called them “disturbing and simply false.”

“We will reevaluate and examine all policies, guidelines and initiatives relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, including as they relate to gender,” Goodell said in a memo circulating the league. “We are retaining outside experts to assist in this review and will also solicit input from current and former players and coaches, advocates and other authorities in this area. Our goal is simple: make our efforts and those of the clubs more effective so that real and tangible results will be achieved.”

Every head coach hired this cycle thus far has been white. The Dolphins, Saints, Texans and Vikings still have openings.

Flores’ lawsuit alleges the NFL “remains rife with racism, particularly when it comes to the hiring and retention of Black Head Coaches, Coordinators and General Managers.”

The league immediately shot down the suit and said, “Diversity is core to everything we do.” The NFL has abided by the Rooney Rule since 2003, which requires teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for head-coaching jobs. Flores alleges the Giants were simply checking off a box in hosting him after he says the job already was filled.

About an hour after Goodell’s memo became public, Flores’ lawyers said they see the statement, on the surface, as a “positive first step, but suspect it to be a “public relations ploy.”

“We understand the concerns expressed by Coach Flores and others this week,” Goodell said. “While the legal process moves forward, we will not wait to reassess and modify our strategies to ensure that they are consistent with our values and longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. In particular, we recognize the need to understand the lived experiences of diverse members of the NFL family to ensure that everyone has access to opportunity and is treated with respect and dignity.”

“For too many years, the NFL has hidden behind the cover of foundations that were supposed to protect the rights of Black players and coaches, all while letting systemic racial bias fester in its front offices. The NFL is now rolling out the same playbook yet again and that is precisely why this lawsuit was filed,” attorney’s Doug Wigdor and John Elefterakis said in a statement. “We would be pleased to talk to the Commissioner about real change, but unfortunately he has not reached out to us to engage in such a discussion.”

Goodell’s memo also addressed Flores’ claims that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross attempted to bribe the then coach to lose games. Former Browns coach Hue Jackson has also claimed that during his tenure, Cleveland had a four-year plan in place “incentivizing” the team to perform poorly and has said he has evidence that ownership and top executives intended to lose games.

“We also take seriously any issue relating to the integrity of NFL games,” Goodell said. “These matters will be reviewed thoroughly and independently. We expect that these independent experts will receive full cooperation from everyone associated with the league or any member club as this work proceeds.”