Meeting Dan Rooney

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As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I launched PittsburghUrbanMedia.com in 2009 to showcase the diversity of Pittsburgh through the people, places, and stories that make the region great. The platform highlights what is happening across Western Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on the African American community, presenting key issues and stories through an authentic Black perspective.

Another passion project of mine is RooneyRule.com, created to educate and inspire future generations about the importance of inclusion and diversity in hiring practices. Opportunities are not equal, and advancement up the corporate ladder is often less about qualifications and more about access. Despite progress, African Americans remain significantly underrepresented in leadership roles, particularly in senior management, underscoring a persistent lack of diversity in corporate America.

As noted throughout this site, the Rooney Rule matters because it requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and other senior positions. This mandate was designed to create a more equitable hiring process by ensuring qualified minority candidates are considered for leadership roles—positions from which they had long been excluded.

I had the privilege of connecting with Dan Rooney during my time at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, where I witnessed firsthand his commitment to implementing the Rooney Rule within the Steelers organization. Mr. Rooney was a quiet but powerful leader who clearly understood the importance of diversity and inclusion. He recognized the need to create pathways to opportunity without hesitation or fear—especially in a league where African American players make up a majority of the workforce.

As of March 2024, approximately 53.5% of NFL players are African American, making the NFL one of the professional sports leagues with the highest representation of Black athletes. Yet leadership roles have not reflected that reality.

At a time when our country is actively debating—and in some cases attempting to dismantle—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, it is more important than ever to spotlight the Rooney Rule and examine the role it continues to play in expanding opportunity and access for African Americans in the league.

While the Rooney Rule has evolved over the years and critics argue it does not go far enough, it remains a crucial starting point. True progress requires that African Americans not only be invited to the table but have meaningful opportunities to advance. Moving forward, additional mandates and accountability measures will be necessary to prevent systemic bias in hiring practices from continuing unchecked.

This is how democracy—and equity—should work.

Robin Beckham
Owner, RooneyRule.com