Report: New Rooney rule would use draft picks to fuel minority hires

The NFL is set to propose an updated Rooney rule that would reward teams with improved draft picks for hiring minority candidates as head coaches or general managers, sources told Jim Trotter of NFL.com.

Under the proposal, a team would climb six spots in the third round of the draft preceding a minority head coach's second season, and it would move up 10 spots in the third round preceding a minority GM's second season. An organization that hires both a minority head coach and minority GM in the same year could rise 16 spots, making it easy to go from the third round to the second.

Additionally, a team would move up five spots in the fourth round if the minority head coach or GM is still with it before a third season.

Owners must vote to approve the amendment before it can be implemented. They are scheduled to hold a virtual meeting Tuesday.

The NFL vowed to update the Rooney rule after minority coaches and executives struggled to land top roles again this offseason. As of May 2020, the NFL had four minority head coaches and two minority GMs.

In an effort to create more of a pipeline, the NFL would also reward a team with a fifth-round compensatory pick if one of its minority assistants gets hired as a coordinator elsewhere. If a person of color becomes a head coach or GM with another team, the previous club would receive a third-round compensatory pick.

Additionally, a team would obtain a fourth-round compensatory pick for hiring and retaining a person of color as its quarterbacks coach beyond one season.

The NFL would also loosen interview rules to help minority assistants have a better chance of becoming coordinators around the league.

The Rooney rule is inspired by former Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who chaired the NFL's diversity committee. Established in 2003, the rule mandates every team to interview at least one minority candidate for a vacancy at head coach or GM before making a hire.