NFL head coach interview process: What to know about league policies, Rooney Rule

The end of the NFL’s regular season means a flurry of coaching changes. It also means interviews for openings are ramping up, as seven teams — the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders — are currently on the hunt for head coaches.

Many teams will look around the league to fill their vacancies and some could explore the college coaching market. But what exactly does the interview process entail and what are the league’s rules? Let’s dive in.

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NFL head coach interview process/rules

The NFL has a series of rules for head coach interviews, outlined as follows:

• Teams with open head-coaching positions were able to begin requesting interviews with candidates from other teams on Jan. 8. Those interviews must happen virtually before the end of divisional-round games on Jan. 21.
• The NFL recommends that teams with open head-coaching positions use this “virtual interview window” to set up an initial interview so those teams are eligible to request a second interview with a candidate from a Super Bowl team during the bye week.
• Note: Teams may not interview employees of other teams that didn’t make the postseason until the third day after the employer teams’ Week 18 game (for example, Jan. 9 for a game on Jan. 6, or Jan. 10 for a game on Jan. 7).

These are the interview requirements for coaches of teams in the postseason:

• If the employer team has a bye in the wild-card round, virtual interviews may begin three days after Week 18 games (Jan. 9 or 10, whichever is applicable) and must happen before the end of wild-card games.
• If the employer team is participating in the wild-card round, virtual interviews may begin three days after the team’s wild-card game and must happen before the end of the divisional-round games on Jan. 21, as follows:
  • For a Saturday or Sunday game, virtual interviews are allowed starting Jan. 16.
  • For a Monday game, virtual interviews are allowed starting Jan. 17.

Starting Jan. 22 (the day after the divisional round ends):

• Teams can conduct in-person or virtual interviews with candidates employed by other NFL teams whose seasons ended.
• Teams cannot hold initial interviews with candidates employed by teams participating in the AFC and NFC championship games until the end of the employer team’s season. Second interviews are not allowed until Jan. 29. A candidate’s employer team may not voluntarily grant permission for those interviews.

Starting Jan. 29 through Feb. 4 (the bye week between conference championships and the Super Bowl):

• Second interviews, either in-person or virtual, are allowed with head coach candidates employed by teams in the Super Bowl. The team(s) conducting the interviews must notify the employer team(s).

Contact with head coach candidates in the Super Bowl is not allowed from Feb. 4 to Feb. 12, the day after the Super Bowl.

Additionally, no contract, contract announcement or contract agreement is permitted until after the end of the employer team’s season.

What about college coaches?

The NFL’s notes do not address college coaches. Teams can interview those coaches — such as Jim Harbaugh, who has reportedly generated NFL interest — now.

What is the Rooney Rule?

NFL teams must also abide by the Rooney Rule, the league’s policy that requires teams to interview candidates from minority groups for head coach, general manager and executive positions. The rule was adopted in 2003 and named after Dan Rooney, the former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the NFL’s Workplace Diversity Committee.

The rule was established to increase diversity in team leadership and has been amended multiple times since it was introduced to broaden the scope of included groups — such as women — and roles.

Regarding head coaching jobs, teams must conduct an in-person interview with at least two external candidates who are people of color and/or women. Virtual interviews don’t satisfy Rooney Rule requirements, per the NFL.

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(Photo of Ron Rivera: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)