An organization that champions diversity in the NFL has initiated an inquiry with the league about the Indianapolis Colts' process in hiring an interim head coach, according to a statement obtained by the NFL Network.
The Fritz Pollard Alliance said in a statement Thursday it has "initiated an inquiry with the NFL into whether this hiring process conformed with NFL Hiring Guidelines for naming an interim Head Coach.”
Jeff Saturday, a former Indianapolis offensive lineman, was named interim head coach of the Colts earlier this month after the team fired Frank Reich.
The NFL's Rooney Rule requires every team to interview at least two external minority candidates for open head coaching positions and at least one external minority candidate for a co-ordinator job.
However, the rule does not apply to interim positions.
There are six minorities in head coaching positions now: Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Houston’s Lovie Smith and Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles, who are Black; Miami’s Mike McDaniel, who is biracial; the Jets’ Robert Saleh, who is of Lebanese heritage; and Washington’s Ron Rivera, who is Hispanic.
-- with files from AP
