Florida AG Demands NFL Suspend Rooney Rule

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier demanded Wednesday that the National Football League suspend its longstanding Rooney Rule, arguing that the policy requiring teams to interview minority candidates for key positions violates state civil rights law.

In a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Uthmeier described the rule as "blatant race and sex discrimination" and warned of potential enforcement actions if the league does not confirm by May 1, 2026, that it will cease enforcing the policy on Florida-based teams. The state hosts three NFL franchises: the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins. Uthmeier also posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, outlining his office's position ahead of the league's annual meetings next week in Phoenix, Arizona, and the NFL draft in late April.

The Rooney Rule, implemented in 2003 and named after former Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, mandates that teams interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching vacancies and one for senior football operations roles, such as general manager or coordinator positions. It was expanded in 2022 to include women and now encompasses requirements for...