PHOENIX — Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham plans to keep advocating for greater diversity in NFL executive roles, following Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s challenge to the league’s minority hiring requirements.
Uthmeier recently contacted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming the league’s two-decade-old Rooney Rule constitutes “blatant race and sex discrimination.”
“Just from my position, especially being a Black man, there’s still work to be done,” Cunningham shared with The Associated Press during Monday’s NFL league meetings. “Now that I’m in this position and have this platform, I’m going to be intentional about what we do from a grassroots effort to a director level.”
“I do think it’s important to give people of all races and sexes a chance to be in a position to further their career,” he added.
The Rooney Rule mandates that teams conduct interviews with a minimum of two minority candidates when filling head coaching, general manager, and coordinator roles. Additionally, teams must interview at least one minority candidate for quarterbacks coach openings.
Cunningham, 40, joined the Falcons organization this past January following a four-year stint as assistant general manager with the Chicago Bears. His NFL front office experience also includes work with the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles.
When asked about Uthmeier’s specific objections, Cunningham declined to comment, stating he lacked complete information about the situation.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, one of only three Black head coaches currently in the NFL, similarly expressed the need for more details before weighing in on the attorney general’s complaint.
“The political part of it, if he wants it out, and he has reasons why, I got to hear cases and all that,” Bowles explained. “If I were the judge sitting behind a bench, I would probably have more info right now what he thinks, but I don’t.”
Uthmeier has demanded Goodell confirm by May 1 that the NFL will stop enforcing the Rooney Rule in Florida, warning of potential civil rights litigation. The state houses three NFL franchises: the Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
“NFL fans in Florida don’t care what color their coach’s skin is,” Uthmeier wrote. “They care what colors their coach is wearing — and that those colors are winning on the football field. The Rooney Rule and its offshoots are illegal in Florida.”
The upcoming season will feature just three Black head coaches and four Black general managers across the league. Despite 10 head coaching vacancies this season, none were filled by Black candidates.
Robert Saleh, who has Lebanese heritage, was the sole minority hired during the recent coaching cycle when Tennessee brought him aboard.
This marks only the fifth occurrence since the Rooney Rule’s 2003 implementation that no Black head coaches were hired during an offseason. The previous instance with more than five openings occurred in 2013, when eight positions became available.
While Commissioner Goodell won’t address the media until Tuesday at the league’s annual meetings, he stated in February that promoting diversity remains a league priority.
“We need to continue to make progress,” Goodell previously said. “I believe that and I believe diversity is good for us. … I think we have to become a more diverse league across every platform, including coaching. But we still have more work to do.”
