In 2002, the National Football League adopted the “Rooney Rule,” which requires any team engaged in hiring a head coach to assemble a diverse candidate slate. At least in part as a result, the NFL now has seven black head coaches, two of whom -- Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears have become the first African-American head coaches to lead their teams to the Super Bowl. On January 24th 2006, ACS's panel of experts addressed how those policies were adopted, implemented, the impact they have had on the league and the challenges that remain.

Panelists included:

• Michael Haynes, Vice President of Player and Employee Development for the National Football League;
• Cyrus Mehri, Founding Partner, Mehri & Skalet, PLLC and counsel for the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an affinity group of black coaches, front office and scouting personnel;
• Leonard Shapiro, NFL Reporter, The Washington Post;
• Kellen Winslow, Director of Planning and New Event Business Development, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex; former Executive Director, Fritz Pollard Alliance; former Tight End, San Diego Charges (1979-87); and Member, Pro Football Hall of Fame; and
• Moderator Brig Owens, Partner, Bennett & Owens; former Defensive Back, Washington Redskins (1966-77); and Member, Washington Redskins Hall of Fame.