NFL analyst explains how Colts exposed loophole in Rooney Rule to hire Jeff Saturday
The Indianapolis Colts' decision to fire Frank Reich and hire Jeff Saturday straight from ESPN ruffled some feathers. Many around the league weren't pleased with the team bypassing any number of qualified candidates, some of whom are minorities, to hire their former player.
The Rooney Rule is in place to give minority coaches a fair opportunity, something it seems the team didn't bother with. Andrew Brandt told Rich Eisen on his eponymous podcast:
"One thing I can't excuse is the Rooney Rule. But the NFL has no Rooney rule for interim hires. So that's really on the league, more so than the Colts. And as far as passing up people that have worked. Yes, I get it. But it happens in all walks of life. You know, people are brought in over people that have done the grunt work for years. It's not fair, but it happens."
Many teams often try to shirk around the Rooney Rule when hiring candidates. The NFL is famously being sued by former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who alleges he wasn't legitimately interviewed in correlation with the rule.
They've undergone changes in recent years to try and prevent any loopholes, but NFL teams continue to find ways of doing what they want. Especially when it comes to hiring coaches.
What is the Rooney Rule that the Colts might have worked around?
According to the NFL, the rule is defined as:
"The Rooney Rule is one part of the NFL’s effort to develop a deep, sustainable talent pool at all levels of the organization. The policy promotes diverse leadership among NFL clubs to ensure that promising candidates have the opportunity to prove they have the necessary skills and qualifications to excel."
Going further:
"Through hiring best practices, the Rooney Rule aims to increase the number of minorities hired in head coach, general manager, and executive positions. This diversity enriches the game and creates a more effective, quality organization from top to bottom."
The rule does not apply to interim coach hires, which is how the Colts snuck by. When they hire an official head coach next season, if it's not Saturday, they'll have to adhere to the rule.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit the Rich Eisen Show and H/T Sportskeeda.