A lack of diversity in the NFL's coaching ranks is an ancient problem—one that persisted long after large-scale integration came to the league's player pool. The Rooney Rule, the league's signature coaching diversity initiative, was created in 2002, at which time the league had only ever had seven minority head coaches.
Earlier this decade, the league created an accelerator program designed to help minority coaching and executive candidates get a foot in the door with teams. Now, that program is being put on hold—with an aim toward improving it in the future.
