Last week, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier publicly challenged the NFL’s famous Rooney Rule, arguing the rule is discriminatory and in violation of Florida law. Despite these attacks, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell does not seem to be backing down, stating, “we believe that diversity has been a benefit to the National Football League…We are well aware of the laws and where the laws are changing or evolving. We think the Rooney Rule is consistent with those.”[1]
The Rooney Rule was enacted in 2003 and requires NFL teams to interview at least two minority candidates for key leadership roles such as head coach and general manager positions, with the rule later expanding to include women and adding additional leadership roles to the rule’s scope.[2]
Uthmeier, in a letter to the NFL in late March, argued that the Rooney Rule violates Florida law by requiring race-based considerations in the hiring process. As Uthmeier put it, “Florida law is clear: Hiring decisions cannot be based on race. And the Rooney Rule mandates race-based interviews and incentivizes race-based decisions. That’s discrimination.” In light of these claims, Uthmeier threatened that the NFL stop enforcing the Rooney Rule by May 1 or face civil enforcement action brought by the state.[3]
While Goodell seemed unmoved by these threats, and doubled down in support of the Rooney Rule, the same cannot be said for other leaders around the league. For example, in light of Uthmeir’s criticisms of the Rooney Rule, Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II announced his skepticism of the rule’s validity, responding to questions about the rule with: “we’ve got to look at that and make sure we’re in compliance.”[4]
The NFL’s commitment to keeping the Rooney Rule suggests that at least for now, the league will continue to prioritize its diversity and inclusion goals. As the legal world is undergoing rapid and expansive change, the determination of the Rooney Rule’s validity is likely to shape how professional leagues can operate with diversity in mind while staying in compliance with the law.
[1] Ben Baby, Goodell backs Rooney Rule, says diversity ‘a benefit’ to NFL, ESPN (March 31, 2026).
[2] The Rooney Rule, NFL (Accessed April 1, 2026). https://operations.nfl.com/inside-football-ops/inclusion/the-rooney-rule/
[3] Samantha Putterman, PolitiFact FL: Florida AG James Uthmeier says the NFL’s Rooney Rule violates Florida law. Does it? WLRN (April 3, 2026).
[4] Jarrett Bailey, Steelers President says NFL needs to review Rooney Rule, Behind the Steel Curtain (April 1, 2026).
Blake Breidenstein is a third year law student at the University at Buffalo School of Law who has spent much of his law school career studying how the law intertwines with the sports and entertainment industry. Throughout his time in law school, Breidenstein has supported the university's compliance office, working alongside a supervising attorney and staff in ensuring compliance with the ever-changing rules governing collegiate athletics. As a lifelong baseball player, Blake focuses much of his writing on the MLB, although his Buffalo roots occasionally turn his focus towards the Bills and Sabres.
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