The San Francisco 49ers announced on Tuesday that they have implemented new initiatives to attract and retain a diverse talent base. The team will implement diverse slate interviewing practices, ensuring that women and people of color are included in the interview pool for every full-time business operations position posted by the team. In alignment with the 49ers continued commitment to diversity, the team also announced enhancements to the Denise DeBartolo York Fellowship, which will now employ a rotational program providing cross-functional experience for young women who aspire to have a career in sports.
Following the NFL’s recent expansion of the Rooney Rule, requiring at least one woman be interviewed for all executive-level positions at the league office, the 49ers are furthering that commitment by pledging the interview pool for every full-time business operations position posted will include at least one person of color and one woman candidate.