Some analysts say they expect more such behavior as the nation moves into a broader discussion about the potential for driverless cars to unleash colossal changes in American society. The debate touches on fears ranging from eliminating jobs for drivers to ceding control over mobility to autonomous vehicles.
The N.F.L.’s 32 owners made an unexpected announcement after meeting a few weeks ago: The league was strengthening rules that obligate teams to consider minority candidates when hiring coaches and executives in their front offices.
At the time, the league said it was just trying to beef up existing regulations, not reacting to criticism that teams had been skirting the rules for years.
“Our focus was simply: How do we make the Rooney Rule better?”
Robert Gulliver, the league’s chief human resources officer, said, referring to the rule adopted in 2003 and named for Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the time who pushed for the regulations.
In the world of tech, the Rooney Rule is a crude tool for a complex problem. But given how much time and money Silicon Valley has spent trying to solve their issue with equality, even a blunt instrument is worth trying.
