Sam Acho doesn't believe incentives will tempt teams to hire minorities as head coaches and general managers. The NFL Players Association executive committee member said Sunday that cronyism is the issue as it stunts opportunity.
"The problem is, it can't be about incentives. It's gotta be about giving the right coaches the right opportunities," Acho said during an ESPN radio interview. "The problem with the NFL is that there's so much cronyism; it's all about who you know. Oftentimes, NFL coaches aren't the best coaches; they're not. "Oftentimes, people talk about the politics and the business of football; it's about who you know, and no one wants to talk about it."
A Free Agent Now
The 31-year-old linebacker, who is currently a free agent, was responding to reports that the NFL might allow teams to improve their draft status based on minority hires.
The proposal would reportedly allow teams to move up 10 places in the third round of the draft ahead of the second year under a newly hired minority GM. For newly hired head coaches of color, teams would get a six-place jump in the third round of the draft before his second season.
Should a team hire a minority head coach and GM in the same year, the rise would be 16 places in the third round — potentially into the second round. The subject is reportedly likely to be discussed during Tuesday's virtual meeting with team owners. A proposal needs 24 (of 32 votes) to pass.
Only Two Minority GMs
Acho said the virtual NFL draft due to the coronavirus pandemic put the diversity issue on full display. There are only two minority GMs in Chris Grier of the Miami Dolphins and Andrew Berry of the Cleveland Browns and four minority head coaches — Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ron Rivera of the Washington Redskins, Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers and Brian Flores of the Dolphins.
"It's like one of America's best-kept secrets — no one knows who's in charge, especially in corporate America," Acho said. "But because of COVID, we got an inside look to who's in charge. And I think it just opened some people's eyes into a bigger problem that's going on in our country, which is a lack of diversity, especially in positions of power."
Acho has played in 110 NFL games (57 starts) and has 241 tackles (22 for losses), 18 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions while being employed by the Arizona Cardinals (2011-14), Chicago Bears (2015-18) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019). He had three tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in eight games for the Buccaneers last season.
