Kansas City ChiefsEric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator Tampa Bay BuccaneersByron Leftwich, the offensive coordinator, is among the more than 60 candidates for the NFL's first Coach and Front Office Accelerator program. It will take place next week in Atlanta at the NFL spring meeting.
Each NFL team nominates at least one candidate for the two-day program. The program is scheduled to occur on Monday and Tuesday in time with the NFL's meetings.
This program's primary goal is to provide opportunities for minority candidates to be interviewed by the league's top-ranking decision-makers. This program was born out of the feedback received by the league's diversity panel at the NFL scouting Combine in March from successful and unsuccessful candidates from the most recent coach/GM hire cycle. One of the issues that they found most frustrating about the process was the fact that they had never met the team owner before they applied for the job.
Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, said that the NFL is committed “to diversity and inclusiveness” and that this program was just the latest step in a series of steps to improve hiring practices and provide opportunities for advancement. The program allows clubs to be exposed to the best and most promising talent in the NFL and gives candidates an opportunity to work with team executives and owners.
During March's NFL meeting in Palm Beach, Florida the league announced that all 32 NFL team will hire a minority assistant coach for the 2022 seasons. This was part of a series a policy enhancements by the league to address ongoing diversity efforts.
Brian Flores sued the NFL and three of its teams in a lawsuit claiming inequity in the hiring of diverse candidates for head coaches and GM positions. Miami DolphinsIn February, he claimed discrimination in his interview process and his firing from Miami. Ray Horton, Steve Wilks, and Ray Horton are now also named in the lawsuit.
Bieniemy was interviewed for the head-coaching job at the NFL in each of the last four years. This includes this year's interview with the NFL. Denver BroncosAnd New Orleans Saints. Leftwich, in turn, was a candidate for the job of head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago BearsSaints.
Although there has been some progress, especially in the areas of general managers and defensive coordinators; only five minority head coaches are in the league. Goodell admitted in February that the league was “lacking” its goals during the 2022 hiring cycle for head coaches and promised to redouble his efforts this offseason.
The NFL noted that this list is subject to modification.
Arizona Cardinals:
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Quentin Harris is vice president, player personnel
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Vance Joseph is the defensive coordinator
Atlanta Falcons:
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Charles London, quarterbacks coach
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Anthony Robinson, director college scouting
Baltimore Ravens:
Buffalo Bills:
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Terrance Gray is assistant director of player personnel
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Eric Washington, senior defensive assistant/defensive coach
Carolina Panthers:
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Jeff Nixon, assistant coach, offense
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Samir Suleiman is vice president of football administration
Chicago Bears
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Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager
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Alan Williams, defensive coordinator
Cincinnati Bengals:
Cleveland Browns:
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Glenn Cook, vice president, player personnel
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Joe Woods, defensive Coordinator
Dallas Cowboys:
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Chris Vaughn assistant director college scouting
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Joe Whitt Jr., defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach
Denver Broncos:
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Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator
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Kelly Kleine is the executive director of football operations and special advisor to the general manger
Detroit Lions:
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Ray Agnew, assistant general manager
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Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator
Green Bay Packers:
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Jerry Gray, defensive-backs coach/passing coordinator
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Richmond Williams, Director of Pro Personnel
Houston Texans:
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Pep Hamilton is the offensive coordinator
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Mozique McCurtis, national scout
Indianapolis Colts:
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Marcus BradyAs offensive coordinator
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Morocco Brown, director for college scouting
Jacksonville Jaguars:
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Mike Caldwell, defensive coordinator
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Regis Eller, director pro scouting
Kansas City Chiefs
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Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator
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Tim Terry, Senior Director for Pro Scouting
Las Vegas Raiders:
Los Angeles Chargers:
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Renaldo Hill, defensive coordinator
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JoJo Wooden is the director of player personnel
Los Angeles Rams:
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Thomas Brown, assistant head coach/tight ends coach
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Ray Farmer, Senior Executive Personnel
Miami Dolphins
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Marvin Allen, assistant general manager
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Jon Embree, assistant head coach/tight ends coach
Minnesota Vikings:
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Chris Blanco is the assistant director of pro-scouting
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Chisom Opara, national scout
New England Patriots:
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Steve Cargile, pro scouting director
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DeMarcus Cvington, defensive-line coach
New Orleans Saints:
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Khai Harley is vice president of football administration
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Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach
New York Giants:
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Brandon Brown, assistant general manager
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Thomas McGaughey, Special Teams Coordinator
New York Jets:
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Chad Alexander, director, player personnel
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Ron Middleton, tight ends coach
Philadelphia Eagles:
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Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach
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Jeff Scott, director of football operations
Pittsburgh Steelers:
San Francisco 49ers:
Seattle Seahawks:
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Alonzo Highsmith is the senior executive advisor to Alonzo Highsmith.
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Kerry Joseph, assistant quarterbacks coach
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
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Jacqueline Davidson director of football research
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Byron Leftwich is the offensive coordinator
Tennessee Titans:
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Tony Dews is running backs coach
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Brian Gardner, director pro scouting
Washington Commanders:
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Randy Jordan, running backs coach
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Eric StokesThe senior director of player personnel
Participants from the NFL league office
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Dawn Aponte, SVP, football operations & chief football administrative officer
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Kevin Boothe is director, Management Council/Labor Operations
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Kimberly Fields SVP, Football Business Strategy/Football Operations
