NFL executives have decided to cancel their Accelerator Program, which is designed to promote diverse hiring practices for head coaches and executives, citing the need for improvements.
The next Accelerator event, which connects people from diverse backgrounds with team owners and executives, was scheduled for next week in Minnesota.
Accelerator to take a break to be more impactful
According to reports, league officials determined that the program needed an overhaul to improve its effectiveness.
“Each offseason we reflect on the positives and areas for improvement in our programs and evaluate ways to make them more impactful,” said Dasha Smith, NFL executive vice president and chief administrative officer, in a statement.
“This year, we have evaluated and identified additional opportunities with the Accelerator, including combining the coaches and managers programs to ensure that it continues to have the greatest possible impact.”
Smith noted that the next Accelerator event will be held in May 2026, which “will allow us to reimagine the program, reflect on feedback and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the success of the program in the future.”
The NFL will not end the Accelerator Program
League executives emphasized that the cancellation does not mean the NFL is ending its commitment to diversity. Rather, it allows the league to redouble its efforts to ensure that everyone is given a fair opportunity.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthening our talent pipeline and creating an environment that reflects the diversity of our fan base,” Smith said. “The NFL strives to be a unifying force, and we are confident that the next evolution of our efforts will bring us one step closer to that goal.”
The NFL began holding Accelerator events at its spring meetings starting in 2022, after league executives perceived that owners were ignoring highly qualified people of color for vacant positions
The NFL also has the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minorities for vacant general manager, head coach and coordinator positions.
So far, however, only two people have gotten jobs as a result of the Acceelerator program: Ran Carthon (general manager of the Tennessee Titans, fired in 2024) and Aaron Glenn (current head coach of the New York Jets).
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