NFL commissioner Roger Goodell this week defended the league's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program and said there are no plans to end it despite recent moves by U.S. businesses to end their DEI efforts.
Goodell, during his annual Super Bowl week press conference to discuss the state of the NFL, was asked if the league's Rooney Rule, which sets a minimum number of minority candidates who must be interviewed when hiring for various staffing positions, and diversity programs will continue or if the NFL will follow major companies like Target, Walmart, Amazon, and McDonald's in ending DEI efforts.
Goodell said that the league's "diversity efforts are making the NFL better."
Goodell added:"It's attracted better talent. We think when we get different perspectives, people with different backgrounds, whether they're women or men or people of color, we make ourselves stronger.
"And we make ourselves better when we have that. It's something that I think will have a tremendous impact on this league for many, many years. We win on the field with the best talent and the best coaching, and I think the same is true off the field."
Goodell also noted that the league's diversity policies "have been designed to be well within the law, well within the practice. There are no quotas in our system. This is about opening that funnel and bringing the best talent into the NFL."
He added: "We also believe we are doing the right thing for the NFL and our policies are consistent with the current administration as well as the last administration."