The league needs to do a better job with diversity. (0:39)
The league was urged by civil rights leaders to make drastic changes to its hiring practices to improve diversity in leadership positions.
Art Rooney II, Atlanta Falcons owner and chairman Arthur Blank, Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell, Baltimore Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome, and other top NFL executives were on the video call.
The National Urban League president and CEO told the group that the focus on racial equity and social justice hasn't resulted in improved hiring procedures for the league's head coaches.
There were nine head coach openings this year, two of which went to minorities: Mike McDaniel, who is biracial, and Lovie Smith, who is African American. There are five minority head coaches.
The league and three teams were sued by Brian Flores, who alleged unfair hiring practices in the NFL.
The league has produced an astonishing pool of Black coaching talent that owners ignore when filling the top job.
National Action Network founder and president Rev. Al Sharpton, NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation president and CEO Melanie Campbell, and National African American Clergy Network co-convener Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner were present.
The league was challenged to set measurable goals for recruiting and hiring diverse candidates. They called for the creation of an advisory commission that would make recommendations to the league.
Last week, civil rights leaders called for the replacement of the Rooney Rule in the National Football League. It requires teams to interview candidates of color for head coaching and senior football operation positions.
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