The National Football League and two Historically Black Colleges and University conferences have partnered to create opportunities for minorities interested in pursuing a career in football administration.
The NFL will start its partnership with the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) and the SWAC (Southwestern Atlantic Athletic Conference) and will provide support and assistance to both conferences.
Within the partnership, the NFL/SWAC/MEAC will ensure that more black students have chances to become part of the front office personnel for NFL clubs as well as chances to become coaches, general managers, scouts, and etc…
Some of the schools included in the partnership include Howard University, Grambling State University, Florida A&M University, Alabama State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and many other prestigious HBCUs.
There is certainly a need for more diversity in NFL coaching ranks as an ESPN The Magazine report detailed just how dire the situation is and how badly the league needs more coaches of color.
While the NFL has instituted the Rooney Rule to ensure that at least one minority candidate is interviewed for an open head coaching position, it does not go far enough apparently. A study completed by a consortium of college professors found that white coaches in the NFL are twice as likely to be promoted than black coaches regardless of performance.
The numbers have gotten better but there is still room for improvement. There are less than 10 black head coaches in the NFL with 32 teams in the league.
The NFL’s partnership with the MEAC/SWAC is hopefully a way to honestly improve the number of black head coaches in the league as well as general managers and not just a way to fill open jobs that aren’t within the realm of decision making.
But this new alliance will create a canal for minorities who want access to the NFL but would have problems getting in the traditional way.
