National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league is fully cooperating with a subpoena issued by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier as state officials investigate whether the NFL’s hiring policies violate civil rights laws.
The subpoena, issued on May 13, seeks extensive records connected to the NFL’s diversity hiring practices, including documents related to the league’s long-standing Rooney Rule and demographic data dating back to 2017.
Speaking during league meetings in Orlando, Goodell defended the NFL’s diversity initiatives while emphasizing the organization’s willingness to cooperate with investigators.
“We think it’s certainly within the law, but also something very positive,” Goodell said, adding that the league regularly reviews its employment programs to ensure compliance with legal standards.
The investigation centers heavily on the Rooney Rule, a policy introduced more than two decades ago requiring NFL teams to interview minority candidates for key leadership roles, including head coach, general manager, and coordinator positions. The policy also mandates at least one minority interview for quarterbacks coach openings.
Attorney General Uthmeier has sharply criticized the rule, describing it as “blatant race and sex discrimination” in a letter sent to the NFL earlier this year. He previously warned the league in March that Florida could pursue enforcement action if the policy was not suspended.
The subpoena orders NFL representatives to appear at the attorney general’s office in Tallahassee on June 12 and requests a wide range of records, including diversity reports, coaching census information, and demographic surveys involving team staffs across the league.
Florida officials are also reviewing the NFL’s accelerator program, launched in 2022 to expand opportunities for diverse coaching and executive candidates. The initiative allows participants to connect directly with team owners and executives while preparing for future leadership interviews.
After being paused last year, the accelerator program returned this week with a revised structure that now includes nonminority participants. League officials noted that nearly half of this year’s attendees were white men.
Goodell defended the initiative, saying the NFL’s goal is to help qualified candidates gain visibility and improve professionally regardless of background.
“There are a lot of candidates up there that are diverse, that are getting the opportunity to improve themselves and to get exposure,” Goodell said.
The legal scrutiny arrives as diversity and inclusion programs across major American institutions continue facing political and legal challenges nationwide.
