Roger Goodell Takes Firm Stance On Rooney Rule Controversy

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell isn't backing down from all the controversy surrounding the Rooney Rule.

The Rooney Rule, which was established in 2003, requires NFL teams to interview at least two minority candidates for head coach, general manager and coordinator vacancies. It's named after the late Dan Rooney, who was the chairman of the Workplace Diversity Committee.

"The Rooney Rule is one part of the NFL’s effort to develop a deep, sustainable talent pool at all levels of the organization. The policy promotes diverse leadership among NFL clubs to ensure that promising candidates have the opportunity to prove they have the necessary skills and qualifications to excel," the NFL said. "Through hiring best practices, the Rooney Rule aims to increase the number of minorities hired in head coach, general manager, and executive positions. This diversity enriches the game and creates a more effective, quality organization from top to bottom."

Although the Rooney Rule has been around for two decades, it's now facing pressure from Florida's attorney general, James Uthmeier.

Uthmeier has threatened to take civil rights action against the NFL due to the Rooney Rule. He said this rule is "blatant race and sex discrimination" among other things.

"NFL fans in Florida don't care what color their coach's skin is," Uthmeier wrote in a letter directed to Goodell. "They care what colors their coach is wearing -- and that those colors are winning on the football field. The Rooney Rule and its offshoots are illegal in Florida."

Roger Goodell fires back.

While at the NFL's annual league meetings, Goodell responded to Uthmeier's remarks. He made it clear that he's not getting rid of the Rooney Rule anytime soon.

"The Rooney Rule has been around a long time," Goodell said, via NFL.com. "We've evolved it, changed it. We'll continue to do that."

Goodell wasn't done defending the Rooney Rule's existence.

"One thing that doesn't change is our values and we believe in diversity and its benefit to the National Football League," Goodell said. "We are well aware of the laws and where the laws are changing and evolving. We think the Rooney Rule is consistent with those and we certainly will engage with the Florida AG or anybody else as we have in the past to talk about our policies."

We'll see if Uthmeier responds to Goodell's comments.