Miami Dolphins executive is doing his part to increase diversity among NFL staffs
Reggie McKenzie, the Dolphins’ senior personnel executive and former general manager of the Raiders, will participate in the third annual quarterback coaching summit scheduled for later this month.
The event, put on by the NFL and the Black College Football Hall of Fame, will be held virtually this year due to coronavirus.
The summit is one of several steps the NFL is taking to increase diversity among its member teams’ coaching staffs.
Assistant coaches from college and the pros will participate in the two-day program “to experience professional development and networking opportunities with NFL club executives,” the league said.
“The Quarterback Summit brings together the brightest, most innovative and successful offensive minds from around the country,” said former Dolphins cornerback Troy Vincent, who now serves as the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations. “From professional development to networking to coaching best practices, this summit should leave no doubt about the promising pipeline of championship play callers within the sport of football.”
Just three NFL head coaches in 2020 are black; the Dolphins’ Brian Flores is part of that very small group. None of those three was previously an offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach — positions that are often a pipleline to the top job.
What’s more, the Dolphins’ Chris Grier is one of only two black general managers in the NFL.
The paucity of minority coaches has caused the NFL to expand the Rooney Rule, which is intended to open doors for black candidates in coaching and personnel. The NFL recently adopted new guidelines for the program, mandating that teams interview two minority candidates for head coaching positions, at least one minority candidate for coordinator vacancies and one external candidate for front-office positions.
Teams are also no longer allowed to block assistant coaches and executives from interviewing for new jobs.
Along with McKenzie, other prominent participants include Chargers coach Anthony Lynn, former Dolphins assistant Jim Caldwell and Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy (who was a finalist for the Dolphins’ head coaching job).
More information on the summit is available at NFLCommunications.com.
▪ The Miami Dolphins’ 2020 training camp is tentatively scheduled to open July 28, ESPN reported Wednesday. It is unknown how many, if any, fans will be allowed to attend.
Meanwhile, NFL Network reports that the NFL could shorten preseason from four games to two.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 2:16 PM.
