The NFL has assembled a panel of former coaches and general managers who will recommend head-coaching candidates to teams with a vacancy, and that panel will put a special emphasis on encouraging teams to hire minorities.
Peter King of TheMMQB.com reports that the panel was created in response to the fact that no minority head coaches were hired last offseason. Bill Polian, Tony Dungy, Ron Wolf, and John Madden are among the members of the panel.
King reports that former Bears coach Lovie Smith, Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton, Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Louisville head coach Charlie Strong, Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin, Bengals assistant Hue Jackson, Packers assistant Winston Moss, Packers assistant Darren Perry, Broncos assistant Eric Studesville, and Texans assistant Karl Dorrell are minorities who have been identified as strong candidates. Under the NFL’s Rooney Rule, every team must interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a new head coach.
Non-minority NFL assistant coaches identified by the panel as good head-coaching candidates include Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, New Orleans offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, Miami defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, Buffalo defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton and Washington tight ends coach Sean McVay.