National Action Network (NAN) founder and president Rev. Al Sharpton was one of a number of Civil Rights leaders to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday. The meeting was scheduled after former Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the league and three teams—the Giants, Broncos and Dolphins—alleging discrimination.
In the meeting, the leaders called on the NFL to replace the Rooney Rule, suggesting the NFL establish ”specific recruiting and hiring procedures for executive and coaching positions, with meaningful consequences for teams that do not abide by the rules,“ according to a joint-statement from the NAACP, National Urban League, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Action Network and National African American Clergy Network.
The Rooney Rule was established in 2003 and requires teams to interview candidates of color for head coaching, coordinator and senior football operation positions.
