Florida AG tells NFL's diversity hiring rule violates state law

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has told the National Football League that its diversity hiring mandate known as the Rooney Rule “brazenly violates Florida law. ” In a March 25 letter that begins with Uthmeier mentioning the Miami Dolphins' recent hiring of Jeff Hafley as their new coach, Uthmeier condemns the NFL’s sex- and race-based hiring practices as a violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act and federal anti-discrimination law. The Rooney Rule is the league’s two-decade-old diversity initiative that requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and front office positions.

Florida's GOP leadership, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, opposes what's known as DEI , or diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Professional sports are a visible example of a merit-based system, but through the Rooney Rule, the NFL requires its teams to use race-based hiring practices.

We are putting Commissioner Roger Goodell on notice: the Rooney Rule violates Florida law, and it must stop. pic. twitter.

com/g8La6TzUZw — Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) March 25, 2026 "Stop discriminating based on race. Stop discriminating based on sex," Uthmeier wrote. "Interview, hire, and train based on merit.