For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have worked to increase opportunities for minorities in the NFL. In the 1970s, they were one of the first teams to scout and add talent from HBCUs. More recently, they helped integrate the Rooney Rule, which improves opportunities for minority coaches. They’ve also taken full advantage of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. This year, they’ve added a few coaches through that program, with Mercyhurst’s Fredick Gladney being a recent addition.
Mercyhurst is a smaller Division I school located north of Pittsburgh near Erie, Pennsylvania. Gladney has been a coach for their football team since 2023.