Florida AG warns NFL: Drop affirmative action ‘Rooney Rule’ or face legal consequences Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, has issued a formal warning to the NFL, demanding the league abandon its race- and sex-based hiring policy known as the “Rooney Rule” or face potential legal action. In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Uthmeier accused the NFL of violating Florida law by enforcing the rule, which requires teams to interview minority and ethnically diverse candidates for coaching and executive positions. The AG’s letter, addressed to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, demands confirmation by May 1 that the league will cease enforcing the policy or risk civil rights enforcement measures. The Rooney Rule, named after late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, was introduced in 2003 after Black coaches Tony Dungy and Dennis Green were fired despite strong records. The policy aims to promote diversity in hiring by mandating that teams consider candidates from underrepresented groups. However, Uthmeier argued that the rule’s application in Florida constitutes illegal discrimination. He emphasized that Florida law prohibits employers from making hiring decisions based on protected characteristics such as race or sex, and that the Rooney Rule’s requirements—such as limiting opportunities for certain groups—violate this principle. Uthmeier’s letter highlighted specific provisions of the Rooney Rule that he deemed problematic, including the expansion of the policy to include women as a qualifying minority and incentives for teams to hire minority coaches. He criticized the NFL for allegedly using “diversity” initiatives to create quotas, arguing that such practices are discriminatory and illegal. “DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] is discriminatory and illegal,” Uthmeier stated.#nfl #james_uthmeier #roger_goodell #rooney_rule #florida_ag
