How Many Minority GMs Are There in the NFL?

There are four minority general managers in the NFL as of the 2020 season. They are the Miami Dolphins’ Chris Grier, the Washington Redskins’ Martin Mayhew, the New York Jets’ Douglas Williams, and the Houston Texans’ David Culley.

Introduction

In the NFL, a relatively small number of minority general managers (GMs) have been hired over the years. In fact, as of 2019, there are only four minority GMs in the NFL: two Black men and two Hispanic men. This is despite the fact that minorities make up a significant portion of NFL players. Here is a look at the current minority GMs in the NFL.

The Rooney Rule

In order to increase the number of minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs, the NFL adopted what is commonly known as the “Rooney Rule” in 2003. The Rooney Rule requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and senior football operations vacancies. In 2009, the rule was expanded to require teams to interview at least two minority candidates for any head coaching vacancy and one minority candidate for any vacant offensive or defensive coordinator position.

The Number of Minority GMs in the NFL

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, the highest professional level of American football in the world, the wealthiest professional sport league by revenue, and the sport league with the most valuable teams.

Of the NFL’s 32 teams, there are currently six minority general managers. This means that 18.8% of NFL teams are led by a minority GM. While this number has increased in recent years, it is still lower than what many advocates would like to see. The NFL has been working to increase diversity in all areas of their operations, and they have made some progress in this area in recent years.

The Reasons for the Low Number of Minority GMs

In the NFL, like in most professional sports, the general manager (GM) is responsible for the management of the team’s player personnel. This includes everything from the recruiting and signing of players to their trade and release. The GM is also responsible for hiring and firing the team’s coaching staff. In short, the GM is the person in charge of putting together a winning team.

For a variety of reasons, minorities have been historically underrepresented in the role of GM in the NFL. In 2013, only two of the league’s 32 teams had minority GMs. This number had barely increased by 2019, with four minority GMs out of 32 teams.

There are a number of theories as to why there are so few minority GMs in the NFL. Some believe that racism is still a factor in who is hired for these types of positions. Others believe that there is a lack of qualified minority candidates for these positions. Still others believe that the pool of potential minority candidates is smaller than the pool of white candidates because minorities have not been given equal opportunities to work their way up through the ranks of NFL front offices.

Whatever the reasons for the low number of minority GMs, it is clear that this is an issue that needs to be addressed if the NFL wants to truly be a league that values diversity and inclusion.

The Consequences of the Low Number of Minority GMs

Since the 1970s, the National Football League (NFL) has been subject to scrutiny for its lack of diversity among head coaches and general managers (GMs). In 2002, the Rooney Rule was implemented in an effort to increase the number of minority head coaches, but the number of minority GMs has remained low. In 2020, there are only four minority GMs in the NFL out of a total of 32. This representation is far below what would be expected given the demographics of NFL players, which are roughly 70% black and 30% white.

The low number of minority GMs has consequences for both players and coaches. Fewer role models means that it is harder for young minority coaches to see themselves in leadership positions. This can create a self-perpetuating cycle in which minorities are less likely to aspire to be GMs, and therefore less likely to achieve this goal. Moreover, minority GMs are more likely to hire minority head coaches, creating a more diverse coaching pool from which teams can choose. In turn, this can lead to better representation among player positions as well.

There are several possible explanations for the low number of minority GMs in the NFL. One is that owner preference plays a role: Most NFL owners are white, and they may gravitate towards hiring people who they see as similar to themselves. Additionally, unconscious bias may also play a part in hiring decisions. Studies have shown that people tend to favor candidates who share their own race or ethnicity, even when those candidates are not necessarily more qualified than others.

The low number of minority GMs in the NFL is an issue that needs to be addressed. Without greater diversity among leaders, the league will continue to face criticism for its lack of inclusion. Moreover, it will be difficult for the league to truly reflect its players’ diversity if those in charge do not reflect that diversity as well.

Conclusion

There are currently four minority general managers in the NFL: Chris Grier of the Miami Dolphins, Dave Gettleman of the New York Giants, Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens, and Brad Holmes of the Los Angeles Rams. While this may seem like a small number, it is worth noting that two of these GMs (Grier and Holmes) were hired within the last year. In addition, there are several minority GM candidates who are highly respected within the league and could be hired in the future.