NFL to Hold Rescheduled Owners Meetings, Address Rooney Rule Proposals

The NFL will hold their rescheduled, virtual owners meetings today at 1 p.m., according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.

I’m told the virtual owners meeting with start at 1 EST. https://t.co/aN4ZbtEZRI

— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) May 19, 2020

The owners meetings were originally scheduled to take place in Florida in March, but they were rescheduled and relocated to be held in California from May 19-20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, the league felt it best to move the meeting to an entirely virtual format.

A second virtual meeting will be held on May 28, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

NFL had to cancel its owners meetings this spring, so owners and league/team execs will hold virtual meetings today and May 28.

Today’s meeting will focus on returning to team facilities and debating/updating the Rooney Rule. Playing rule proposals will be debated on the 28th

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) May 19, 2020

Today’s meeting will primarily deal with clubs returning to team facilities and the proposed changes to the Rooney Rule.

According to a report last week from NFL.com’s Jim Trotter, the league is expected to present changes to the Rooney Rule that would incentivize teams that hire minority head coaches and general managers with improved draft picks.

The league has already announced immediate changes to the rule, requiring teams to interview at least two minority head coach candidates for openings and one for coordinator positions, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The NFL is immediately instituting changes to the Rooney Rule, requiring clubs interview at least 2 external minority candidates for head coach openings and 1 minority candidate for any coordinator job, I’m told. That's on top of two resolutions up for vote @JimTrotter_NFL noted.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 18, 2020

Washington’s Ron Rivera was the only person of color hired this offseason to fill one of the league’s five head coaching openings. There are just two African-American general managers and four minority head coaches in the league currently.

Proposed rule changes that affect actual play will be addressed during the May 28 meeting, also to be held virtually.