After Pausing Coaching Accelerator Program Due To Trump DEI Ban, NFL Will Look At Other Ways To Encourage Diversity

The NFL Coaching Accelerator has scheduled five events since 2022, providing minority coaches with the opportunity to engage and develop their talent alongside team owners and executives. The sixth would have been in Minneapolis, but the NFL has decided to take a step back.

NFL chief administrative officer Dasha Smith told ESPN that the accelerator would be paused for a year, during which time the league would reevaluate the program’s strategy.

“We believe diversity of thought and background is essential to our success,” Smith said, “and it’s reflected in the policies, programs, and partnerships that help us attract, develop, and retain top talent at every level on and off the field.

“Every off-season, we take a step back to reflect on the positives and areas for improvement of our programs and assess ways to make them more impactful. This year, we assessed and identified additional opportunities with the Accelerator – including combining the coaching and front office programs to ensure the Accelerator continues to be as impactful as possible.”

According to Smith, the NFL intends to introduce the new version of the accelerator in May 2026. But how will diversity fare in the meantime?

The accelerator has had limited success, true. Only one coach and one general manager have come out of the program over the three years it’s been running. But, with the Trump administration’s efforts to quash “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) programs across the country, pausing a diversity-centered program sends a particular message.

There are three fewer minority head coaches and GMs in the 2025 NFL than there were in 2024. For the second year in a row, there are no back offensive coordinators – something that previously hadn’t happened since 1988, despite other league diversity policies like the Rooney Rule.

The NFL and its commissioner, Roger Goodell, have been adamant that the league’s diversity initiatives are here to stay. It’ll be up to them to prove that the coaching accelerator not only returns, but is also effective.