NFL diversity initiative: Here are the 40 participants attending Coach Accelerator program at owners meeting

The NFL is continuing one of its most prominent efforts to create diversity among the league’s head-coaching ranks by holding Year 2 of its Coach Accelerator program at the owners meeting in Minneapolis next week (May 21-23). The goal of the program, which began in 2022, is “to increase exposure between owners, executives, and diverse coaching talent, providing ample opportunity to develop and build upon their relationships,” according to the NFL.

Last year, NFL teams could only nominate their own assistant coaches, but in 2023, teams could push for assistants from other teams to be included as well. Forty coaches will attend the program in Minnesota next week with 40% of participants (16) being returners from the 2022 group. 

“It was a great experience to be a part of the first accelerator (program), and I’m excited to continue this journey,” Tennessee Titans passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Charles London said in a press release announcing the news. “I look forward to networking and growing my professional development.”  

Coaches were selected based on their “high potential” to be a future head coaching candidate. In addition to networking with owners and front office executives, the 40 coaches will go through development sessions on the topics of executive leaderships skills and business acumen. 

“In the year since its inception, we’ve been encouraged by the positive response to the Accelerator from both club owners and participants,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the release. “We look forward to continuing to build on an incredible program that supports diverse talent.”  

Below are the 40 coaches who will be in attendance next week.