The NFL and Diversity

[oldgrappler]

There are often discussions on this forum about the lack of diversity in the NFL among coaches, owners, QBs, etc.  Here's some of what the NFL or NFL teams are doing to address this issue.  

1.  Bill Willis Coaching Fellowship -- Hall of Famer, Bill Willis, played with the Browns from 1946-53.  Willis, along with the Browns' Marion Motley ('46-'55), was among the first African-Americans to re-integrate professional football during the modern era.   Israel Woolfork, is the Fellowship recipient for the Browns this year and will be working with QBs.  This is a fellowship created by the Browns and given to rising minority coaches on the offensive side of the ball.  

“We created the Bill Willis Fellowship to help address an issue in our league that we all need to do our part to impact,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said in the press release. “(Executive Vice President of Football Ops and GM) Andrew (Berry) and I have tried to be very intentional about adding diverse perspectives to both the coaching and personnel side of our organization. Historically, there has not been enough diversity on the offensive side of the ball and specifically in the quarterback room.

Woolfork, 31, has spent that last 8 years on staff at Miami University (Ohio).  

 

2.  Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship is an opportunity each NFL team offers during offseason programs.  Woolfork received this fellowship during the 2021 offseason with the Browns.

 

3.  John B. Wooten Award is presented by the Fritz Pollard Alliance.  The award honors NFL teams that embody workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion across the hierarchy of the organization.  The Browns were the first recipients of this award given out during Super Bowl week 2022.  The organization was recognized for inclusion of minorities and women within the organization.  John Wooten was a two-time Pro Bowler for the Browns across 9 seasons ('59-'67), opening holes on the OL for Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, and Ernie Green.  Wooten also was a longtime executive in the NFL and was the first Chairman of the Alliance and its Executive Director until he retired in 2019.  Pollard signed to play for the Akron Pros of the American Professions Football Association in 1920 becoming their coach in 1921.  The APFA became the NFL in 1922 making Pollard the first African-American coach in the NFL.  

These are a few things that the NFL is doing to make a positive impact on diversity within the NFL.  

A.  What other positive steps are being taken to promote diversity by the NFL, its franchises, or organizations associated with the NFL or its players?  

B.  What are your reactions to this?  

[theguru]

I think these organizations are great, but at some point the NFL needs to be an open environment where the cream rises to the top organically. 

[TheDeuce]

Lipstick on a pig. 

[theguru]

5 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

Lipstick on a pig. 

What would you do on this topic if you were in charge of the NFL?

[TheDeuce]

1 minute ago, theguru said:

What would you do on this topic if you were in charge of the NFL?

Promote and hire worthy minority candidates. 

[theguru]

8 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

Promote and hire worthy minority candidates. 

I agree, the end. 

[oldgrappler]

4.  Inaugural coach and front office accelerator program.  Each team sends two representatives to Atlanta for two days of networking, leadership development, and training in the business aspects of the league.  

"The program will provide senior women and minority prospects with leadership development sessions as well as networking opportunities. The effort is designed to continue building a diverse hiring pipeline for future head coach and general manager positions throughout the league."  In addition, they "engage in candid discussions on how to take the next step in becoming a Head Coach or front office executive."  

Cleveland's GM, Andrew Berry, has a vision for the Browns to become like "a farm system for the NFL," meaning they hire and develop women and minorities who will probably end up in other organizations as they move up the ladder when opportunities become available.  

That's a little more than lipstick.  

You can criticize, complain, and lament the shortage of minorities in meaningful coaching and front office positions, or you can do something to change it.  Cleveland, for one, is taking steps to change their own organization and impact the rest of the NFL.  

Here's a link to the full article on Cleveland.com: Coach Accelerator Program

 

[PurplePride92]

On 5/14/2022 at 12:04 PM, theguru said:

What would you do on this topic if you were in charge of the NFL?

Work harder to get minorities into ownership. Plenty of options these days.  

[bugatti]

2 hours ago, PurplePride92 said:

Work harder to get minorities into ownership. Plenty of options these days.  

This is obviously key.

But one thing I believe is important to highlight is the amount of minority assistants. That, too, at one time was non existent. It’s easy to say “there should be more minority head coaches,” but the selection pool has historically been very small. The number of minorities and other organizational leadership roles is rapidly increasing, and now up to 40%. If we are judging progress solely on “head coaches,” then yeah the NFL has more work to do. But I think steps they’ve taken the last several years to boost minority assistants, etc. will pay dividends down the road. 

[oldgrappler]

On 6/4/2022 at 2:25 PM, bugatti said:

This is obviously key.

But one thing I believe is important to highlight is the amount of minority assistants. That, too, at one time was non existent. It’s easy to say “there should be more minority head coaches,” but the selection pool has historically been very small. The number of minorities and other organizational leadership roles is rapidly increasing, and now up to 40%. If we are judging progress solely on “head coaches,” then yeah the NFL has more work to do. But I think steps they’ve taken the last several years to boost minority assistants, etc. will pay dividends down the road. 

The bolded.