From the New Orleans locker room during Super Bowl week, Roger Goodell was steadfast. Despite the change in presidential administration and the political voices weighing in loudly on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, the NFL would not change.
“We got into diversity efforts because we felt it was the right thing for the National Football League,” the NFL commissioner said, “and we’re going to continue those efforts because we’ve not only convinced ourselves, I think we’ve proven ourselves that it does make the NFL better …
Advertisement
“We see how it’s benefited the National Football League, and so I think we’ll continue those efforts.”
On at least one front, they are not.
The NFL has canceled the coach accelerator program it had scheduled for May 20 and 21 in conjunction with league meetings in Minneapolis, a league spokeswoman confirmed.
The accelerator plan remained up on the official league calendar as of Tuesday afternoon. But the program, including its May coaching track and December front-office track, will not take place in 2025.
“We have decided to hold the next iteration of the Accelerator in May 2026,” NFL executive vice president and chief administrative officer Dasha Smith said in a statement. “This will allow us to reimagine the program, reflecting on the feedback and engaging with stakeholders so we can ensure a successful program in the future.”
Advertisement
Smith did not mention political currents in her statement, instead attributing the cancellation to the league’s annual offseason review of its programs effectiveness and “ways to make them more impactful.”
The league is interested in combining coaching and front-office programs to intermingle candidates — an iteration that multiple diverse coaching and front-office candidates have told Yahoo Sports they would prefer.
“We’re steadfast in our commitment to strengthen our talent pipeline and create an environment that reflects the diversity of our fan base,” Smith said in her statement. “The NFL strives to be a unifying force, and we are confident the next evolution of our efforts will take us one step closer to that goal.”
Whether related to political tides or not, the timing of the cancellation will raise eyebrows.
Advertisement
The cancellation news broke during the league’s highly publicized schedule release rollout. It broke just one week before the accelerator was scheduled to begin. A May 1 email inquiry from Yahoo Sports about the acceleration program went without response until now.
The NFL held six accelerator programs for coaches and/or front-office manager from May 2022 to December 2024.
The NFL women’s forum at the scouting combine continued in February. The general manager forum and quarterback coaching summit, which last year was held in partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame, is expected to again be held this summer.
Goodell said the NFL would not change diversity policies to appease corporate partners.
Advertisement
“We don’t make policies for our sponsors or any of the corporations or networks or partners that we deal with,” he said.
The league continued to implement the Rooney Rule this hiring season, requiring minority candidates to be interviewed for openings at head coach, general manager, coordinator and quarterback coach.
Goodell spoke in support of the Rooney Rule then, noting that widening the talent pool is “a very strong hiring practice” and not the league’s only effort.
“The Rooney Rule is a part of that process and an important part of that process,” Goodell said. “There’s more to it. It’s only one aspect of our policies.”
Advertisement
With the cancellation of the 2025 accelerator programs, the league will implement one fewer policy toward diversity efforts this year.
Goodell said the election would not impact that.
“We’ve talked to the diversity committee several times in the last six months or so, and we are incredibly confident of that,” Goodell said. “But we also believe that we’re doing the right thing for the NFL.
“Our policies are consistent with the current administration as well as the last administration.”
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Potential Flyers upgrades, trades and offer sheets, and is Rick Tocchet a sensible choice?: Mailbag
Sorting through some Philadelphia Flyers mailbag questions while we await the announcement of their next head coach. (Some questions have been lightly edited for style and clarity.)The Flyers need a No. 1 center, No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie. Which is most likely position that they can obtain in a trade or free-agent signing? — Warren B.I feel like I’ve seen this a few times and while I don’t necessarily disagree, I think it’s a bit too narrow to phrase it this way.AdvertisementYes, the Flyers need a No. 1 center. They know it, they’ve admitted it, they’re searching for it and they know it won’t be easy.But as far as procuring a No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie, a certain amount of patience is necessary.In terms of the defense, it depends how you define what a No. 1 […]
Potential Flyers upgrades, trades and offer sheets, and is Rick Tocchet a sensible choice?: Mailbag
Sorting through some Philadelphia Flyers mailbag questions while we await the announcement of their next head coach. (Some questions have been lightly edited for style and clarity.)The Flyers need a No. 1 center, No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie. Which is most likely position that they can obtain in a trade or free-agent signing? — Warren B.I feel like I’ve seen this a few times and while I don’t necessarily disagree, I think it’s a bit too narrow to phrase it this way.AdvertisementYes, the Flyers need a No. 1 center. They know it, they’ve admitted it, they’re searching for it and they know it won’t be easy.But as far as procuring a No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie, a certain amount of patience is necessary.In terms of the defense, it depends how you define what a No. 1 […]
2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers 1.0 from Jamey Eisenberg: Justin Fields’ legs gives him top-10 upside, and more
USA Today It's time for Round 2 of sleepers for this season, and this is the first edition following free agency and the NFL Draft. Obviously, a lot has changed since Sleepers 1.0 (INSERT LINK HERE), especially with the rookies, and these are players you should plan to target with mid- to late-round picks. Once we get legitimate Average Draft Position data then we can truly define sleepers for this year. For now, these are players that I anticipate being drafted after Round 8 based on mock drafts we've done with our CBS Sports staff, as well as drafts that I've participated in with other analysts for different publications. The outlooks for several of these players could change through minicamps and off-season workouts. And we'll adjust with another version of sleepers during training camp to get you prepared for your […]
2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers 1.0 from Jamey Eisenberg: Justin Fields’ legs gives him top-10 upside, and more
USA Today It's time for Round 2 of sleepers for this season, and this is the first edition following free agency and the NFL Draft. Obviously, a lot has changed since Sleepers 1.0 (INSERT LINK HERE), especially with the rookies, and these are players you should plan to target with mid- to late-round picks. Once we get legitimate Average Draft Position data then we can truly define sleepers for this year. For now, these are players that I anticipate being drafted after Round 8 based on mock drafts we've done with our CBS Sports staff, as well as drafts that I've participated in with other analysts for different publications. The outlooks for several of these players could change through minicamps and off-season workouts. And we'll adjust with another version of sleepers during training camp to get you prepared for your […]
Muller define três clubes ameaçados no Brasileirão: “Um dos grandes vai cair”
Muller, comentarista da TV Gazeta (Reprodução) Muller prevê que, em 2025, um dos grandes clubes do Brasileirão será rebaixado. Embora o campeonato esteja no início, o ex-jogador trouxe um aviso para três times fortemente ameaçados pelo Z-4. Inicialmente, Grêmio e Santos, acumulando atuações irregulares nas oito primeiras rodadas, foram incluídos no grupo que podem encarar um cenário melancólico no final do ano. “Um dos grandes vai cair neste ano de novo. Grêmio, Santos… se os times grandes não abrirem o olho. ‘Ah, o campeonato tá começando, eu posso errar’. O Santos só tem uma vitória no campeonato. Essa poupança de derrotas faz falta lá na frente. Tem o critério de desempate de vitórias e saldo de gols.”, disse Muller, no podcast Tá na Área, da Gazeta Esportiva. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “No segundo turno, você olha pra trás e fala: ‘Empatamos e […]
Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury is a devastating blow to the Celtics’ future and a star in his prime
Midway through the fourth quarter in Game 4 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drove left, split the defense and muscled home a layup, tying Larry Bird and John Havlicek for the most 40-point playoff games in franchise history. The prime of his career had just begun.This was the next Celtics legend, scripting his legacy in real time for the NBA's defending champions.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWriting that last part in the past tense is hard but now necessary, as only a few minutes later Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon while chasing a loose ball late in a 121-113 loss to the New York Knicks. The Celtics now trail the Knicks in the best-of-seven set, 3-1, but the outcome on the court is secondary.As teammate Al Horford told reporters, "The loss is the loss. More importantly, you know, […]
Related
Potential Flyers upgrades, trades and offer sheets, and is Rick Tocchet a sensible choice?: Mailbag
Sorting through some Philadelphia Flyers mailbag questions while we await the announcement of their next head coach. (Some questions have been lightly edited for style and clarity.)The Flyers need a No. 1 center, No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie. Which is most likely position that they can obtain in a trade or free-agent signing? — Warren B.I feel like I’ve seen this a few times and while I don’t necessarily disagree, I think it’s a bit too narrow to phrase it this way.AdvertisementYes, the Flyers need a No. 1 center. They know it, they’ve admitted it, they’re searching for it and they know it won’t be easy.But as far as procuring a No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie, a certain amount of patience is necessary.In terms of the defense, it depends how you define what a No. 1 […]
Potential Flyers upgrades, trades and offer sheets, and is Rick Tocchet a sensible choice?: Mailbag
Sorting through some Philadelphia Flyers mailbag questions while we await the announcement of their next head coach. (Some questions have been lightly edited for style and clarity.)The Flyers need a No. 1 center, No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie. Which is most likely position that they can obtain in a trade or free-agent signing? — Warren B.I feel like I’ve seen this a few times and while I don’t necessarily disagree, I think it’s a bit too narrow to phrase it this way.AdvertisementYes, the Flyers need a No. 1 center. They know it, they’ve admitted it, they’re searching for it and they know it won’t be easy.But as far as procuring a No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie, a certain amount of patience is necessary.In terms of the defense, it depends how you define what a No. 1 […]
2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers 1.0 from Jamey Eisenberg: Justin Fields’ legs gives him top-10 upside, and more
USA Today It's time for Round 2 of sleepers for this season, and this is the first edition following free agency and the NFL Draft. Obviously, a lot has changed since Sleepers 1.0 (INSERT LINK HERE), especially with the rookies, and these are players you should plan to target with mid- to late-round picks. Once we get legitimate Average Draft Position data then we can truly define sleepers for this year. For now, these are players that I anticipate being drafted after Round 8 based on mock drafts we've done with our CBS Sports staff, as well as drafts that I've participated in with other analysts for different publications. The outlooks for several of these players could change through minicamps and off-season workouts. And we'll adjust with another version of sleepers during training camp to get you prepared for your […]
2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers 1.0 from Jamey Eisenberg: Justin Fields’ legs gives him top-10 upside, and more
USA Today It's time for Round 2 of sleepers for this season, and this is the first edition following free agency and the NFL Draft. Obviously, a lot has changed since Sleepers 1.0 (INSERT LINK HERE), especially with the rookies, and these are players you should plan to target with mid- to late-round picks. Once we get legitimate Average Draft Position data then we can truly define sleepers for this year. For now, these are players that I anticipate being drafted after Round 8 based on mock drafts we've done with our CBS Sports staff, as well as drafts that I've participated in with other analysts for different publications. The outlooks for several of these players could change through minicamps and off-season workouts. And we'll adjust with another version of sleepers during training camp to get you prepared for your […]
Muller define três clubes ameaçados no Brasileirão: “Um dos grandes vai cair”
Muller, comentarista da TV Gazeta (Reprodução) Muller prevê que, em 2025, um dos grandes clubes do Brasileirão será rebaixado. Embora o campeonato esteja no início, o ex-jogador trouxe um aviso para três times fortemente ameaçados pelo Z-4. Inicialmente, Grêmio e Santos, acumulando atuações irregulares nas oito primeiras rodadas, foram incluídos no grupo que podem encarar um cenário melancólico no final do ano. “Um dos grandes vai cair neste ano de novo. Grêmio, Santos… se os times grandes não abrirem o olho. ‘Ah, o campeonato tá começando, eu posso errar’. O Santos só tem uma vitória no campeonato. Essa poupança de derrotas faz falta lá na frente. Tem o critério de desempate de vitórias e saldo de gols.”, disse Muller, no podcast Tá na Área, da Gazeta Esportiva. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “No segundo turno, você olha pra trás e fala: ‘Empatamos e […]
Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury is a devastating blow to the Celtics’ future and a star in his prime
Midway through the fourth quarter in Game 4 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drove left, split the defense and muscled home a layup, tying Larry Bird and John Havlicek for the most 40-point playoff games in franchise history. The prime of his career had just begun.This was the next Celtics legend, scripting his legacy in real time for the NBA's defending champions.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWriting that last part in the past tense is hard but now necessary, as only a few minutes later Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon while chasing a loose ball late in a 121-113 loss to the New York Knicks. The Celtics now trail the Knicks in the best-of-seven set, 3-1, but the outcome on the court is secondary.As teammate Al Horford told reporters, "The loss is the loss. More importantly, you know, […]
Be the first to leave a comment