The NFL has paused the accelerator program it has used for three years to help increase diversity levels in key coaching positions, the league confirmed Tuesday.
The latest accelerator event, which connects coaches of diverse backgrounds with owners and team executives, had been scheduled to take place during next week’s spring meeting in Eagan, Minnesota. There have been a total of five such events since the program’s inception in 2022, most recently with coaches at the 2025 scouting combine.
The league gathered diverse front office candidates in December 2024 and also held its annual Women’s Forum to further expand opportunities.
In a statement provided to ESPN, NFL chief administrative officer Dasha Smith said the program will be reimagined and return next year.
“We believe diversity of thought and background is essential to our success,” Smith said in the statement, “and it’s reflected in the policies, programs, and…
