After the official presentation of Jon Gruden as the new head coach of the Oakland Raiders, the franchise could now run into problems. The league is currently investigating whether the Raiders have violated the so-called Rooney rule. This was confirmed by a press spokesman of the NFL.
The inquiry was put to the Fitz-Pollard Alliance, an advocacy group for cultural diversity at Front Offices and Coaching Staffs in the NFL. Accordingly, the Raiders are suspected of having agreed with Gruden before candidates from a cultural minority were interviewed.
The Rooney rule states that teams must interview at least one candidate from a minority to fill their coaching and front office positions.
Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie interviewed two minority candidates in the trial, Oaklands Tight Ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC’s offensive coordinator Tee Martin, before the team officially confirmed their cooperation with Gruden on Saturday. However, the Fritz Pollard Alliance fears that an agreement had already been reached before the two interviews.
Steve Wyche of the NFL Network reports that if the raiders have indeed violated the rule, they have to fear a fine.