NFL Faces Civil Rights Complaint Over 'Racist Rooney Rule'

On Tuesday, America First Legal (AFL) filed a Civil Rights complaint against the NFL. AFL claims that the "Rooney Rule" – which requires NFL teams to interview minority candidates for certain positions – is racist and illegal. 

According to the filing, the "Rooney Rule" violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and causes the league to engage in race and sex discrimination. The filing also states: "To serve false ‘diversity,’ the NFL disregards long-settled law and engages in patently illegal and immoral racial bean-counting."

AFL senior advisor Ian Prior released a statement about the complaint, which reads in part: "Every year during this time, NFL teams must follow the ‘Rooney Rule’ and interview prospective coaches and executives, not because of their skill and hard work, but rather because of the color of their skin. This process is not only insulting and condescending to prospective coaches who are merely interviewed to check a box, but it is also the exact kind of racial balancing that the Supreme Court of the United States has unequivocally denounced as illegal and anathema to equal protection under the law." 

(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

OutKick obtained a copy of the letter sent from America First Legal to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and it can be read here: 

Whether the "Rooney Rule" is illegal is up to the courts to decide. However, it's hard to argue that the policy is not racist. Forcing NFL teams to interview candidates on the basis of their skin color is clearly racist. 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discussed "Rooney Rule" on Monday 

On Monday, Goodell spoke to the media ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl. OutKick's Armando Salguero is in Las Vegas and wrote about Goodell's comments – which, of course, included questions about the "Rooney Rule" and minority coaches in the league. 

The New England Patriots didn't interview anyone for their head coaching vacancy and simply promoted Jerod Mayo. Except, that's not a problem – apparently – because Mayo is black. 

"That is, I think, a very positive thing for teams to do," Goodell said. "I don't believe it's skirting the Rooney Rule. I actually believe it's benefiting our players and our coaches to have that kind of stability."

But, as Salguero wrote, "What if Mayo were white?" Goodell praised the Patriots for developing their next head coach and creating a succession plan. But, that only applies to black coaches, evidently. That's pretty clear racial discrimination. 

(Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)

"Rooney Rule" forces NFL teams to conduct interviews with minority candidates that aren't truly under consideration for positions 

In addition, Prior's statement notes "sham interviews" conducted solely for the purposes of checking a box. There is a perfect example of this happening with the Washington Commanders last week. 

The Commanders chartered a private jet to Detroit to interview both Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Johnson, who is white, allegedly texted the Commanders' brass while they were in flight to pull his name out of the running. 

Since then, the team has launched an all-out smear campaign against Johnson because they are angry that he elected not to move forward. Part of their complaint is that he alerted them while they were en route to interview him. 

However, why does that even matter? If they were truly interested in interviewing Glenn, who is black, then it's not like they made a wasted trip. They had to fly to Detroit to speak with Glenn, regardless. Right? 

Or, did they only want to actually interview Johnson and realize they could check off the "Rooney Rule" box since they were already going to be in Detroit. 

(Junfu Han/USA TODAY Network)

That seems like the most likely option. Why else would they be so mad about a "wasted" trip that shouldn't have actually been "wasted"? 

How is Aaron Glenn supposed to feel in this situation? The point of the "Rooney Rule" is to help minority – mostly black – coaching candidates. But, Glenn is now very aware that the Lions interviewed him only because they had to. And, that's a … good thing for Glenn? 

It's pretty simple, NFL: hire the best people for open positions. Don't take their skin color into account. 

And that applies to all American corporations. It's time to stop all the DEI nonsense. 

Hire the best people and don't consider their skin color. 

Wild idea, I realize. 

UPDATE: The NFL responds to Fox News digital

"We are proud of the work that we have done to promote equal employment opportunities for women and people of color and the resulting growth in diversity throughout the NFL.  As Commissioner Goodell said only yesterday, diversity makes us better.  We look forward to responding to this complaint and demonstrating that our policies and programs are fully consistent with the law and with fundamental notions of fairness," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy