Florida AG Seeks Suspension of NFL’s Rooney Rule With May 1 Deadline

Overview

• Florida attorney general James Uthmeier sent a letter Wednesday telling Roger Goodell to suspend the Rooney Rule by May 1 or face enforcement under Florida law.
• The demand also went to the Dolphins, Buccaneers, and Jaguars, putting Florida franchises under the same deadline.
• The NFL said it is reviewing the letter and asserted its hiring policies comply with the law.
• Steelers owner Art Rooney II, who chairs the league’s diversity committee, said the NFL must ensure its policies follow changing legal standards.
• The Rooney Rule requires teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for top jobs, yet the 2025 cycle produced only one minority head-coach hire, intensifying questions about its impact.