Overview
- The program returns May 18-20 at the NFL’s spring meeting in Orlando after being paused in 2025.
- Now open to candidates of all backgrounds, the initiative remains focused on advancing underrepresented talent and shifts to senior-level prospects aligned with head-coach or general manager readiness.
- Clubs can nominate up to two people under defined criteria that include former NFL head coaches, college head coaches, coordinators or quarterbacks coaches, and front-office leaders such as assistant general managers or heads of personnel, football operations or administration.
- Beyond the in-person session, the NFL promises year-round mentorship, personalized executive coaching and specialized development tied to head-coach and GM demands.
- The move follows a cycle with one minority head-coach hire out of 10 openings; Roger Goodell said the league must make more progress, Jonathan Beane rejected suggestions of outside political pressure, and the NFL cites 79 participant promotions since 2022.