Rooney Rule? Maybe the N.F.L. should forget the Rooney Rule, which the league leans on in a halfhearted effort to increase diversity among its head coaches. What the N.F.L. needs are more leaders like Bruce Arians.
A profound American truth was on display this week in Tampa Bay, Fla. When it comes to racial progress, it often takes one person in a position of power — emboldened, unafraid and, because of systemic inequity, usually white — to break through the logjam.
Over a year after coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Super Bowl victory, and two weeks after learning Tom Brady would return from what may be the shortest superstar retirement in sports history — Arians shocked football by announcing his retirement this week, elevating his handpicked successor, Todd Bowles, to the job.